These Are My JOTtings, Part #2

Free Verse: "Quality Assurance"

Sliding gloves of plastic film
upon these hands of ready digits to start,
I make my rounds while bowing down
to pick up paper, fruit, and shucks.

Before two hours have airplaned past,
propellers of the short and long
are hands like mine as plastic bags
do fit the bins for more treasured naught,
and out the door to toss the old away in the dumpster.

Come, whisk, all flushed to make clean pots,
offensive stay they not very long of smell and sight.
We spritz and wipe the cleaning mist
to give hearts peace, "enthroned" in bliss.

To "swab the deck" amid lemon plumes refreshed,
to sweep the sidewalk of refuse free
to vacuum carpets, making pristine faces of their threads,
until the list is finished, and signed by a master's hand,
completes the day. "A good and faithful servant" I have been.

by Jay O’Toole
on September 5th, 2023