Apologies to Kenny Rogers: An Intern's Farewell

By Bryan Bennett  

When I started I told the Creative Director and Content Manager that I have three special skills:

1) The ability to always find a parking spot;

2) A near encyclopedic knowledge of Will and Grace; and

3) The ability to rewrite poems and songs without screwing up the meter.

It is on that final skill set that I rely for my parting shot.

So with apologies to Kenny Rogers ...

An Intern's Farewell

On a cool Autumn eve

At a wine bar in Uptown

I met with some alumni

And we ate some cheese.

We took turns a’lyin’

‘Bout our business and vacations.

Then the meeting was called to order

And Eve began to speak.

She said, “Folks I’ve made a life

Out of reading people's Facebook

Their Twitter and their LinkedIn

Of which I am Queen.

And if you don't mind my sayin’

I see the mistakes you’re makin’

Each day in your Twitter feed

And right there on your Walls.”

So I gave her my attention

And she discussed Twitter mentions

Then she described Facebook

And what she sees done wrong

And the night got deathly quiet

And her face lost all expression

She said, “If you're going to play the game, boy

You gotta learn what things to write.”

You’ve got to learn about Facebook,

Learn about LinkedIn

Know when to pin it

Or when not to Tweet.

You’ve got to engage your followers

With Interacts and Informs

Entertains and Converts

With links for them to read.

Well she seems to know

That the secret in this business

Is knowing when to make a joke

Or when to hit "delete"

Cause every interaction

With a client or a follower

Can change in an instant

From just one bad tweet.

When she finished speaking

I had a copy of her rule book

But also had some questions

So I left my corner seat

She told me ‘bout a program

Two hundred and forty hours

She invited me to join them

As an intern for 12 weeks.

I’m going to learn about Facebook,

Learn about LinkedIn

Find out when to pin it

Or when not to Tweet.

I’m going to engage followers

With Interacts and Informs

Entertains and Converts

And, with links for them to read.

I got to learn about Facebook,

Learn about LinkedIn

I know when to pin it

I know when not to Tweet.

I can engage followers

With Interacts and Informs

Entertains and Converts

And, with links for them to read.

So long, and thanks for all the fish.

(Reaction from rest of SMD team:)

Farewell