Today I talked to the Trimmer Man
who, naturally, turned out to be a nice enough guy
- a former construction worker
whose body cannot take those punishments any longer.

He seemed a bit disappointed
when I said that I don't notice a lot of difference
(other than symbolically)
since GE Capital bought our block of apartments
from the local housing company, Poseidon,
three years ago.

Poseidon still does not use contractors, I hear
but stick to the old ways
of having people permanently employed
for the janitorial chores of a block.
Whereas in our block, after the American model
there are contractors who hire the people
and own the machinery.
So all workers are on circuits
through several different housing areas

And I didn't say I don't quite share his regrets
at being too pressed for time
to keep the environments as neat for the tenants
as we deserve.