Simon

 Simon 

Not so simple Simon cleaning windows

With a smile both rueful and disarming 

Up the ladder with his bucket

Always time to discuss a novel. 

Happy to chat and discuss bestsellers  

Better read than any writer 

Familiar with classics, old and new

Better informed than me or you. 

Progress marked the march of years

His trusty bike gave way to better wheels 

That cheeky schoolboy grin

A better man than I Gunga Din. 

Covid came and we lost contact

Often thinking fondly through the panes 

Of the cleaner who cheered us up

Discussing Shakespeare and Fontaine. 

Today we learned of his fast demise

A blood clot sadly did the damage 

And robbed us of our learned cleaner

His broad wide smile up his metal ladder. 

Tradesmen come and gardeners go

But Simon touched our hearts and so

Each time we look out the window

We’ll remember him in sun and snow.