While Waiting For The Train #4

... thinking is a dangerous thing...

While Waiting For The Train #4

Sitting here, thinking about work

and the inherent contradictions

of housekeeping.

Or, should I say:

Sanitary Engineer,

Building Maintenance.

In reality, all it is

is an old fashioned janitor.

Or, as some of my friends say:

“Old damn janitor!”

Affectionately,

but also with an edge.

oo0oo

But this isn’t what I am thinking about.

No, it’s more the routine

and its mindless activity.

As we often say:

“It’s the same old, same old”;

or, “SSDD”;

same s**t, different day.”

Today for example,

it was a Thursday Monday.

It’s always a Monday of some kind.

And Monday kind of describes the job too.

oo0oo

This too, is not what I am thinking.

It’s more the executive decisions

a janitor must make.

Decisions that determine

the ‘smooth’ functioning of a factory,

office, or where ever.

You laugh!

But really, it’s true.

Ever go to the bathroom

and there is no toilet paper?

See, I exaggerate not.

Or what if there were no

forks, knives, or spoons

in the lunch room.

Then what?

Are you really going to eat that

crispy green salad

with mushrooms and feta cheese,

smothered in ranch

with your fingers? Please!

oo0oo

But, even these earth shaking decisions

are not what I am thinking.

It’s those ever present,

critical questions:

sweep, mop, then pull trash?

Or should I pull trash, sweep

and then mop?

This monotonous rotation

determines the rotation

of the earth around the sun;

the phases of the moon

and when will I clean the bathrooms,

causing the most inconvenience

to everyone.

This by the way, is most satisfying

and one of the few perks of the job.

Sweep,

mop,

pull trash;

sweep, mop, pull trash.

Or, pull trash,

sweep,

mop!

It can give you grey hairs,

all this responsibility

and decision making.

oo0oo

Sitting here, now on the train home,

a brilliant,

not to mention uplifting,

idea rampages through my tired mind.

Tomorrow

I am going to be rebellious-

an open radical!

A free thinker!

Tomorrow, I have decided

will be “Liberation Day”.

“Janitors of the world unite!”

Tomorrow there will be a revolution,

as I,

the Damn Old Janitor will:

mop,

pull trash,

then sweep!!!

~~redzone 5.14.09

Author's Note

from when I was working... thanks for reading..



yep, older and deeper in debt!!!

Reviews

[Tate Morgan]

By the way i understand the day older and deeper in debt as i have two daughters getting married Man it costs a fortune for the honor of walking one down the aisle

[Tate Morgan]

Hi Red thank you for the insight into life in your neck of the woods seems monotony is not something i have cornered the market on. Dont worry work is work Is it always monotonous and then the weekend oh yeah !

[Honey-Bee]

Splendid job! Don't upset the janitor there might not be any toilet paper next time. Love the humor at the end too!

[Sami Khalil]

"Sitting here, now on the train home,

a brilliant,

not to mention uplifting,

idea rampages through my tired mind.

Tomorrow

I am going to be rebellious-

an open radical!

A free thinker!"

More power to you...:)......................

[s y e]

Dudeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, you're like so amazing. I'm like, blown away by your awesomesauce of a poem, I think you like blowing me away but that's okay..... this was amazing, everything was on point and perfect.

[redzone]

Wow bumblenoodle, your review, well lets just say my noodle is so big now I am going to have to write a poem about awesomesauce and the young woman who penned it... ;0) Think I will call it The Dudetteeeeeee and Her Awebumblenoodlesauce Over Sye.

Thanks noodlebumble for a wonderful review an idea for a poem..

[s y e]

Now there's a poem I'm excited about! ;-) Always a pleasure.

[redzone]

After I hit the post button this came to mind: a poem like this may get me censored at WC as too mature for adults over 18.

[s y e]

Whyy?????????

[redzone]

Mainly.cause it would be a fun silly poem and most adults over 18 don't appreciate silly, they aren't mature enough a sad state of affairs I think. I'm over 18 but going on 12! Never grow old in your heart Sye.

[s y e]

Ha, you're too funny.... stuff all the old whiners

[Lydia Shutter]

Say it isn't so....mop, pull trash, and then sweep? The world will stop spinning on its axis! A janitor is the keeper of life's necessities....the steward of the ship that sails the course he decides. Don't make him angry because if you do, you will find the rest room door blocked when you need it most. And after eating that salad with creamy ranch dressing, do you want a napkin? Oh, you do, do you? Well, then better play nice with the "damn old janitor" on any given Tuesday Monday or Thursday Monday.....eight days a week actually! Curt, every person is powerful in the role he or she plays in life. If we all accepted that and treated all people with respect, every Tuesday Monday would be a sunny one. So go ahead, sweep first, second, or third....I will be the one hiding in the stock room applauding your gumption! :) As is usually the case, I just loved this poem. Lydi**

[just Penny]

I love this. As someone who suffers from frequent Mondayitis, I can totally relate to all that's said :) I had to laugh at how new job titles have become the norm. My brother calls himself an automotive engineer, when he's a mechanic lol. Your final stanza was a perfect rousing ending. Enjoyed this very much :)

[redzone]

Mondayitis, a social disease that spreads world wide in pandemic proportions.. I am suffering from it as I type and I am retired!! Thank you Penny for your wonderful review.

In regardes your brother, with todays cars, their computerized components, etc, you almost have to have an engineering degree and a PHd in psychology (to listen and understand your car's problems) to fix them. Maybe we should call them "car whisperers" ... lol Anyway, thanks again

[just Penny]

LOL.... now there's a good idea for a new poem or short story...the car whisperer ! love it...but maybe not like Stephen King's Christine - creeped me out !

[Sami Khalil]

The poem and the song were wonderful. Both are enjoyable. A splendid job...:)............