In Praise of the Humble Litter Picker

In Praise of the Humble Litter Picker

He's employed by the town council
To pick up litter:
Discarded crisp packets or
Crushed cans of bitter
A below average achiever in life, perhaps?
You see him around the town centre
Most days
Middle- aged, always with a smile
On his face
And despite his humble position
He always has a cheery dispisition.
Out in all weather
Whilst others can shelter, warn inside
Earning more money.
For their families, husbands or wives.
Whilst he does something requiring
No apparent degree or qualifications:
Picking up their rubbish.

And yet... 
At the end of each day
How many of us can look around
Our shops and cafes
Public parks and flower beds
And truly say
That we've had such 
A positive cleansing influence on
The whole centre of our town?
The whole centre our town?

And that without the work
That each day that we do
That all the shops and streets
That we visit
Wouldn't be so nice a place
To visit each day and view?

Only the humble litter- pickers can.

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