PurposeThe paper's aim is to be a satirical reflection of participant experiences at an accounting conference.Design/methodology/approachThis is a poetic exposition.FindingsThe paper highlights the lifecycle of the accounting conference and the experiences of participants in the myriad of conference activities.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is limited to the observations and reflections of one participant. Other participants may have different reflections of their interactions and observations of an accounting conference.Originality/valueThe poem provides a visual representation of the dimensions of the accounting conference and the peripheral interactions that form such a core component of participant experiences at an accounting conference.