ODE TO THE LATE GREAT RECYCLE SITE

Poem by SNCW supporter, Dawn Kranz

In the early 2000’s there once was a site

Where folks could recycle by day or by night.

Unlocked and unguarded the system was tried

Trusting signs and instructions for all to abide.

With containers for semis to haul to and fro

And windows well labeled what will and won’t go.

At North Road and Chumstick, a handy location

For Leavenworth Recycle’s worthy vocation.

We workers came daily to check and to clean

With a college degree, I’m a dumpster dive queen.

If the pop cans are clanging and rocking and rumbling 

That’s just me in there grousing and grumbling.

Chucking stuff out that folks shouldn’tve chucked in

And why can’t they tell aluminum from tin?

In gloppy wet snow and in sun’s blazing heat

With sticky, gross fingers and soggy, wet feet.

We yank bags of glass jars from high windows and slits

With green milk and black goop running down our armpits.

Oh look! here’s a TV and a bottle of gin

Dirty diapers and fenders by the paper bin.

Some people!  I muse, dragging junk to my car

Were they desperate?  Oh well.  The dump aint that far.

Now here comes a guy as mad as can be

Why don’t you take clamshells?  He implores onto me.

I am told I am sweet, not known to be haughty

But today it is hard not to answer him snotty.

The machines cannot take them, it’s a shape they don’t know

They fall off the belts and jam the whole show

We’re glad for the mindful who read signs and do right

Doing their part to keep our work light.

And for those who ne’er got it and will go on to do more

May their gene pool decrease and their life be a bore.

It’s a rare and wonderful breed, don’t you see?

Who are willing to work unseen and for free.

So raise your glass high and give a big cheer 

For our North Road Recycling and its site keepers dear.