Dust & Dirt

I’m stooped down sweeping up the dust & dirt

from this one small section of my floor,

wielding a paint brush & white plastic dust pan—

I’m cleaning up what I can with each small sweep of my arm

& I’m thinking I’m only one person—only one person

on this whole wide six billion-peopled planet doing what I can,

I’m doing the utmost, the best, that I can—

What more can be expected of one person?

I’m sweeping up the dust & dirt for a day—

When are we going to stop hating each other?

2002