The People We'Ll Never See Poem by Patti Masterman

What type of people do they hire
to clean hospital rooms
once the patients
have departed?

Straighteners, neateners;
what do they call them?

Do they whisper in rooms
where death paid a visit,
do they check the room numbers,
ask- it's this one- is it?

But surely no room
has gone unseen by death-
felt his cold presence,
felt his stiff heft?

The cleaners can't clean
till the patient has left;
do they ever come early-
and catch the last breath?

Janitor, housekeeper,
housemaid or turners;
they'll clean up the mess-
when you're at the burners.