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The Cleaner

Bill Greenwell

Published 08 October 2001

"Make sure that you are clean, your clothes are clean, even your shoes" - Last instructions to the WTC bombers

I have polished my boots.

They are so clean, I can see

how dull my eyes are.

I have polished my eyes.

They are so clean, I can sense

how tense my mouth is.

I have polished my mouth.

It closes cleanly on a transparent cargo of words.

I have polished my words.

They are so clean, they fill

my heart's spent ventricles.

I have polished my heart.

My heart is so clean. It is

in my boots.

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