T̶h̶e̶ C̶l̶e̶a̶n̶i̶n̶g̶ L̶a̶d̶y̶

By: Abe Sierra Jr.

 

We see her at the office every day 

 

Waging war on the invading mice

Standing alone against armies of vermin

Earning her stripes by the sweat of her brow 

 

If it weren’t for her

We’d all be buried under mounds of dust

 

And she does it all with a smile on her face

Offering her heart to the task at hand

Like an ancient Aztec sacrifice 

  

Yet after all she does

We can’t recall her name?

 

She shares her wealth:

Her wisdom

Hopes and dreams:

Precious stones

 

Her story

 

We've walked a thousand journeys together 

 

She knows us one by one

Her face, we remember it

Her colorful words, woven in our memories

A scarf to keep us warm

 

We know her

Like a child knows the rhythm of a mother’s heartbeat

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If it weren't for her

We'd all be buried under pyramids

Of coffee-stained paper cups and bagel crumbs

​

Yet after all she does

We can't recall...

​

Damn, what a shame

her job description has replaced her name

 

No Mas...

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Long Live T̶h̶e̶ C̶l̶e̶a̶n̶i̶n̶g̶ L̶a̶d̶y̶  Ana Maria!