The first comes before dusk
as children settle in for sleep
and dishwashers cycles engage
Clink, clink, clink –
bottles rattling –
it’s garbage night.
Black bandana covering hair,
he sports a neatly trimmed beard
and red fleece jacket – appearance
not out-of-place in the upscale
neighbourhood, only his wheels –
blue cart, brimming with bags
one dog perched on the basket,
another settled below – he collects
returnables from blue bins – recycling.
Chatters as he goes, offers a “do you mind?”
to homeowners puttering on front lawns,
nods to passersby, dogs silently watching.
Then later, as windows darken behind
drawn curtains, and the noise of traffic
fades to a minimum, comes another
Clink, clink, clink –
bottle rattling –
it’s garbage night.
One Woman's Quest 