Keep a sharp eye out—
it’s your the last chance to see
the Claw in action for the season—

leaf season, that is, which in my city
runs from November to the end of January,

though some of the most stubborn
sycamore leaves will cling, brown and brittle,
refusing to fall until new green ones
bump them off their perch.

The Claw fleet retires after an intense
three-month season, ending a noisy run
of leaf scraping from city streets—
about 20,000 tons of green waste, I read.

Crews work rain or shine, including holidays,
the website says, and I wonder who gets
assigned to claw duty. Do they enjoy it
as much as those of us who delight in
seeing the two-vehicle operation in action—
the open-mouthed Claw scooping
and dumping leafy detritus into
a receptive truck?

And do the Claws themselves go into
hibernation till next fall when they’re
pressed into service?

I hope they get tucked into a loamy
Claw den for a good rest, as their
keepers wish them pleasant dreams—
with no piles awaiting pickup,
just leaves greening where they should,

nicely affixed to branches, waving
their happy hands in warm breeze.