JASPER

Pre-civil rights south looking limited
janitor wields a mean push broom
but you’ll never catch him not smiling

Even when he sports dual wrist guards
gently placing a day-glo yellow hazard sign
he wouldn’t know from malice
if he was mopping it up

He silently chuckles to himself as if
there’s an amusing story revealed
that he alone sees in the grayish water
slopping on the floor