In rapid succession, I jab my push-broom
Through footpath in which I walk life..."ch..ch..ch"
Clearing debris, so when i'm barefoot, I don't...
step on shards of glass.
he sets about his task~gathering the last of autumns leaves
In days gone by, people said the pipe cleaner
or the black wandering man
with shackles and dirty brushes
When he arrived at the house
in Grand Street number seventeen
A small boy opened the door
He stood wide-eyed
and measuring the big black-clad scary man
who smiled with unusually white teeth in a dirty face
Chains and brushes forged from steel he wore
"Hi, do you remember me from last year ?"
"No, the boy said
but the priest has told a lot about you
on Sundays at the church"
I saw leaves falling
And I noticed months had passed
I saw a lot of leaves falling
And I knew the weather was very dry
I heard the leaves
Sobbing under my feet
And I knew they were feeling
So sad to say goodbye
To the greenery of the neighbourhood
Then I saw a lot of leaves
Blew away by a sudden strong wind
Then I remembered the sweeper
Who had worked here for so many years
Suddenly, instead of raking up the leaves
My tears started watering the leaves
Which would never turn lively fresh again
As they are just like the kind and hardworking sweeper
Who was once here
And now had gone forever
The Chimney Sweeper
by Anna O’Hora-Bimbot
Do you know somebody like me?
Covered in soot
Tired and weary
Nobody to care for me “deary”
I travel by foot
I pull myself up
Before the day turns to dawn
I shiver and shake
Stomach rumbling, I yawn
I keep my mouth shut
And I follow my boss
High on the roof tops
I’m scared but there are no buts
My hair they have shaved
So the flames won’t singe
I slide down the funnel
They don’t care that I cringe
My name is Tom Sild
I’ll soon be seven
I’m a chimney sweep child
My work is no heaven
Do you know somebody like me?
Aye happy to be called big Billy's sidekick
Clearing up the mess ,if Billy failed to do the trick
Always calm and controlled,never showy
He quietly contributed to Celtic's glory
Short in stature,big of heart
He surely played a Lion's part
Never one for the starring role
Keeping the defence safe his guiding goal
Clearly the best supporting act
With Billy that was his pact
We are talking of the great John Clark
Who helped create the pride of Celtic Park
Brother, garbage sweeper,
Don’t sweep anyone’s hopes away
They’ve tossed into the streets...
Tears, you know,
Cannot smudge
Our Avenues...
Folks on the whole
Keep their regrets
All bottled up...
No you can’t guess
How they feel
When they don’t go outside...
Those garbage pails
You’ve emptied out for years
And years and years, are mute
Witness to your feelings...
So why allow anyone
Who thinks only of his stomach
To bother you?
Brother, garbage sweeper,
please don’t misunderstand
My words...
I never intended
To humiliate you ....
What’s the difference
Between us?...
Brother, garbage sweeper,
Don’t sweep anyone’s hopes away
They’ve tossed into the streets...
Tears, you know,
Cannot smear
Our Avenues...
© Üzeyir Lokman ÇAYCI
Paris, 10. 05.1999
Traduit par Yakup YURT en français
French free verse translated into English free verse
by Richard Vallance , 2002
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