THE PLUMBER 

The copper pipes were buzzing

The plumber was here to please

She’d passed exams and brought her tools

And all her expertise

They looked in awe; she pulled her wrench

They sat in ecstasy

As nuts were tightened with a twist

And fingered breathlessly 

She flicked her head and tossed hair back

And wiped her oily hands

Then rubbed the olive carefully

And greased compression glands

The time sped by as wire wool 

Was rubbed and smoothed, and stroked

The torch was lit, the solder flowed

The flames were fired and stoked

But as it reached its apogee

She gripped her faithful tool

Then pushed it back into her bag

As things began to cool

She dusted off her sweat-soiled hands

And stood there with a smirk

A few more pounds, she said out loud

As she viewed her handiwork

John Regan, 2025.