nothing's free

when you see

the man up high on the scaffold,
or on the swing

you wonder how he came into
this profession

of making windows clean. was it
his dream.

a calling.

or did the job choose him. unwelcome
at
the other doors
he knocked

upon. no different than you
or me.

finding his way in the world
to make a living,

to earn a crust of bread,
learning soon,

that
nothing's free.