Poem Number 255 - First Job For My Wife In Australia - 3/2/1988

By chance last week I was walking buy a shop:

A furniture shop in Cronulla we have bought products for us,

And a handwritten notice was advertised in the front window,

‘A casual cleaner wanted at our Taren Point warehouse.’

And so it was, I let it rest for a day or so,

Yet I mentioned to her of this job,

And the reply I received wasn’t so anxious,

Sow with self –determination I have within myself:

I picked up the telephone and enquired with interest.

The lady that was speaking (Mrs. Gibson), told me of everything under the sun about this job.

 She couldn’t have been a nicer descriptive person,

She asked me of the transport difficulty for Nirmala.

And I told her, that is our problem to sort out,

So I rang up my mother to dive us there,

And she agreed to do so in her own rush.

Twelve hours a week at nine dollars per hour.

This seemed to be a terrific wage for Nirmala’s first job,

It would help us pay the bills off quicker,

And bring some little more relief to us both,

So off we three went with little signs of confidence.

To discover the job requirements for this vacancy,

And with Mrs. Gibson pointing out the description and setting out the rules,

Left my self with extreme confidence that Mrs. Gibson would recommend Nirmala for the job,

So that next day arrived and we would all arrive for the interview at the correct time.

A phone later I picked up from Mrs. Gibson wanted Nirmala to start on a trial basis,

So with a look at both Nirmala’s & mum’s face, I agreed on that,

And Nirmala was to be taken by mum, to start at 9am that day,

Well with a vacuum cleaner just bought for us as well.

Mum jokingly asked Nirmala to clean her rug (that she had given us),

So laughing, Nirmala picked up our new cleaner and commenced cleaning.

Both mum and myself looked at each other and smiled,

After her first day at work where she’s got lots to do.

Eight offices, once large showroom, ladies toilets and kitchen,

Men’s toilets and kitchen and another piece of showroom (not so big)!

After proper organization of the tasks to do,

Poor Nirmala came back, collapse and slept.