demonstrably

in the sight of our eyes

they turn magical circles

and twirl figure-eights

on desks and window glass

or with rags fiercely

gripped in their hands

they mutely proclaim

that they clean not just

the leftover stains

but our sins as well:

they wash us remotely

like professional bodyguards

they accurately press

the triggers of their sprays

and with bitter streams of fluid

they slay all the germs –

it’s as if they drive

our immoral thoughts away

and make us smile

mumbling their spells 

with disdain

wrinkling their noses

exorcising our corruption

we have seen it more than once:

how they slide into bathrooms

like apparitions

making the sad, filthy

toilets shine

hissing to themselves in their disgust

of the flatulent and

downright shitty culture

of these two-legged creations

while wanting to shout and scream

you are just waste and excrement

but their secret code won’t allow it

with friends they just exchange greetings

maybe a word or two

for the sake of the conspiracy

but with each other they gossip

stopped somewhere between

the tables of the library and cafeteria

– a public place in principle –

it’s their unwritten agreement

like an open witches’ sabbath

though we all know

they reach into every corner

unlock all the cabinets

find the stains of passion

and drama left by lovers: 

they sniff out the scents

file them away in secret archives

read the love-letters tossed

into trash cans

even if these are torn up

but most important are their brushes

which seem just like ordinary tools

but it’s worth noticing

how carefully they look after them

how respectfully they touch the handles

sometimes picking at something we can’t even see

– it’s not just

a handle but a great antenna

with all the most sensitive gear

perfectly attuned to

the wifi of our unconscious minds

if they so much as sense something interesting

they click a secret button

and read off everything they need

or when they get home

they stick the usb into the computer

munching on some late-night snack

staring at the screen

chuckling away

for we are to them

the sitcom that never ends