The Least of These

She is given a broom and a bucket.
Every day, she does the same thing: Sweep the dirt off of the busy streets.
With a scarf over her face to keep out the dust, and dodging traffic, she sweeps under the sweltering tropical sun.
All day. Every day.
It’s a government job, and I can’t imagine it pays more than $2 a day.
Yet she is a lucky one, because she has a job and gets to bring money home to her family.

There are dozens like her throughout the city. Every day we see them sweeping.

And I wonder: What does it feel like to be a street sweeper? And why not me?