No-one

The poor crossing sweeper, Jo,
in Dickens’ Bleak House, sweeps
the pointless street, and knows
the grave of the dead man, Nemo.
I think of Jo, and Nemo, often
when I drive around Salt Lake,
and out the Old Uitenhage Road
where the street sweepers work
with languid brooms and a tin
at the rough roadworks, where cars
slow down, where they dramatize
broom-work, with tins beckoning,
busy at being busy, and making
work where there is none,
sweeping meaninglessly
the pointless road, as I make
my pointless way, and pay
my pointless toll, with futile
kindness, senselessly steering
somewhere to seek my Nemo.

 - Brian Walter