José Manuel Arango / Whose whose job it is to wash the streets

THOSE WHOSE JOB IT IS

TO WASH THE STREETS

By José Manuel Arango

Translated by Nicolás Suescún

LOS QUE TIENEN POR OFICIO LAVAR LAS CALLES

Those whose job it is to wash the streets
(they get up early, so God helps them)
find on the stones, every other day, puddles of blood

And they also wash them: it is their job
Fast
so that the first passers-by don’t step on them