#39 Kevin Brophy 'The cleaner's life'

Eventually

you notice that insects tend to die

below the windows,

that a barefoot man with dusty soles

put his foot

against the wall

under the desk,

that there’s always food spilled

down the sides of stoves

and bar fridges,

that mice know how to leave

their droppings

along the tops of skirting boards

and somehow high on walls as well,

you discover the affinity of toothpicks

with tricky edges, corners,

curves of plastic handles,

that the uncomplaining door to the bathroom

has been sprayed

with someone’s forgotten vomit, drink,

who knows what,

you discover that a good thumb nail

is your best tool,

that your knees cannot be taken for granted,

that your hands are made of cardboard,

and the cleaner you make a room,

the more startling

its defects become.