The small girl

By Isaac Delaney

Winner, Special Prize for a Poem about Cleaning

The soft tread of the foot
the sighing breath
as an old cleaner goes to work
under the jurisdiction of flickering lights
the dust seems to laugh in his face
but he perseveres
until all is done
he looks around
hoping for a kind word, a congratulatory smile
but none is forthcoming  
he turns to go
his work here is done
a child stops in front of him
“Thank you Mr, for making everything clean and shiny!”
she re-joins the throng of children heading to class
he stares after her
a smile dawning on his face
she noticed
she didn’t just walk past
he turns to go
a spring in his step.