Christopher David {Brooklyn Novice}
Stranger # 1 of 100: Darren
Honest, passionate, dedicated and proud are but some of the words that describe the personality of Darren. We met while I waited for the bus to carry me back to Brooklyn from Manhattan. I had been watching as he meticulously and purposely swept up every piece of litter folks carelessly tossed about, driven it seemed by an inner desire to perfect what others chose to destroy.
After a minor altercation with a pedestrian over trash, Darren made his way over to me where he decided to vent. "I love my job", he bellowed, his words taking on a life of their own. "I do what I do because I love it. I clean this whole strip, with this broom and this bucket and I love it." Darren went on to talk about his life, his family and his desire to stay healthy. At nearly 50 he's had a stroke and severe kidney troubles. Through it all, he's managed to stay positive, focused and humble. "All I want is a thank you once in while...people don't realize how hard we work...New York City is a beast, and taming it ain't easy..."
With that, Darren extended his hand and thanked me for listening. As he walked away I couldn't help but marvel at the wonder of his spirit and think of Martin Luther King Jr., and his once profound declaration:
"If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, sweep streets like Beethoven composed music, sweep streets like Leontyne Price sings before the Metropolitan Opera. Sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say: Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well."
Perhaps Darren had heard that too...
Stranger # 1 of 100: Darren
Honest, passionate, dedicated and proud are but some of the words that describe the personality of Darren. We met while I waited for the bus to carry me back to Brooklyn from Manhattan. I had been watching as he meticulously and purposely swept up every piece of litter folks carelessly tossed about, driven it seemed by an inner desire to perfect what others chose to destroy.
After a minor altercation with a pedestrian over trash, Darren made his way over to me where he decided to vent. "I love my job", he bellowed, his words taking on a life of their own. "I do what I do because I love it. I clean this whole strip, with this broom and this bucket and I love it." Darren went on to talk about his life, his family and his desire to stay healthy. At nearly 50 he's had a stroke and severe kidney troubles. Through it all, he's managed to stay positive, focused and humble. "All I want is a thank you once in while...people don't realize how hard we work...New York City is a beast, and taming it ain't easy..."
With that, Darren extended his hand and thanked me for listening. As he walked away I couldn't help but marvel at the wonder of his spirit and think of Martin Luther King Jr., and his once profound declaration:
"If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, sweep streets like Beethoven composed music, sweep streets like Leontyne Price sings before the Metropolitan Opera. Sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say: Here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well."
Perhaps Darren had heard that too...