Sidney Beck Poet Quatrain

Olga Ivanova

OLGA       IVANOVA


Each day when I get to the office for a coffee fix,
A minor underling,   an immigrant office-cleaner,  
Olga  Ivanova,  greets me.  She’s  been at  work since six
And  off her floor you could eat your dinner.

Her bus  takes an hour after a  rain-soaked queue,
Leaving  three small kids  - abandoned by spouse -
In a  cheap rented apartment near the zoo,
Where she looks after his sick mum too  -  that louse.

Tidies the reception area of  the  whole department;
Specially  keeps  office-copy of  the daily paper for me;
Always says good evening,  smiles  acknowledgement
And  hands  it to me as  I  leave at  five - oh -  three.

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Carolyn Devonshire January 3, 2011 at 9:43 AM Olga sounds like a hard-working woman who knows how much a kind gesture is appreciated, Syd. People like Olga make quite an impression on our lives. She reminds me of the security guard at my first job. He had been my algebra teacher and decided he wanted to work again after retiring. He just loved making people feel good about themselves. Love you and your sensitive heart, Carolyn

Bozhidar Pangelov January 3, 2011 at 8:30 AM Very serious topic about the fate of immigrants. With a very soft finish. Site unfortunately does not read Cyrillic. It would be interesting to read the poem in the original. Welcome!