The Cleaner
By Cherelle St Hilaire
Lockdown… there’s that word again,
When can we go see family? When will this all end?
You can’t go out so don’t bother trying, everyone is watching this virus multiplying!
I slip out of bed while everyone sleeps,
Heading out early morning to the barely awakened streets.
I wait in the cold for the public transport to arrive,
Slipping on the mask I’ve been supplied
I feel people stare and hear them mutter under their breath
Why is she out? She’s not listening they said.
I’m in normal clothes, I see why their confused,
I can’t even throw a smile their way, my mask covering their views
Its ok I understand there is a pandemic going on
I’m here to help, I’ll stand tall and stay strong.
I’m going to the hospital is what I want to say
But I stay quiet, hold my tongue and look away.
It’s so early the sun hasn’t started to rise,
I get to the building, to my locker and summarize,
My mask stays on, now an apron and gloves too
Grabbing my cleaning stuff and heading out… I have a job to do.
People rush past, too busy to notice,
I smile at them their amazingly focused,
Their jobs are so hard, trying to keep everyone healthy,
Doctors, nurses and midwives aplenty.
I clean down the beds, the rails and surfaces,
I manage a quick hello to the familiar faces,
I don’t get too close, I keep my distance,
But I clean every square inch without any assistance
It’s been hours and hours, since I arrived here today,
Not many people have managed to stop and throw a conversation my way
But I know that when my shift ends, I’ll be running for the bus
To get home to my family for love and hugs.
As I go to leave I’m stopped by a few,
They smile and say thank you so much for what i do,
You might not be a doctor or a nurse they say
But you are cleaner and are important in every way
You’re helping us stay safe
You’re helping us survive
You’re helping keep this virus away
By keeping everything sanitized
I feel my heart swell
It feels so good to be thanked,
To know I am helping in any way that I can.
Being a cleaner is hard, you’re in the middle of it all
But helping to fight this virus is the most rewarding job of all,
Being a cleaner is hard, it might not be the job for you,
Just staying home and staying safe is good enough too.
Written Word ‘Hand’ poems