Lunch Duty

30/30 poetry prompt turn a mundane task into poetry

Clocked in 

Set up begins 

Bag-filled wheeled 

trash cans 

mark each pair 

of tables 

Broom & dust pan twins

see each other across the room 

Mop sisters acknowledge 

one another 

from the other corner

Silver carts dash away 

for the tiniest scholars

Lines of kids enter

Silence switches to sound

Adults readied to maintain 

the latter

Different grades change over

Their whirlwind leave 

bones, 

pineapples,

 and 

applesauce 

in their wake

Broom and mop in constant motion;

switch places

Trash can slide in and out

bags change 

Clock strikes 12, 

the cafeteria cleared