Ode on a Lanyard Doffed Post-Conference

From the time we stood in line

for what felt like forty-seven hours

and thirteen minutes waiting to be 

given this long lavender string with

transparent plastic covering of name

of which I am not ashamed, I knew this:

Fealty is unnatural. These proceedings

Immediately

after the conference, I shucked the thing

and left it in the dual-barreled waste

receptacle in the hotel room.