To the editor:

Since early September, our barrels of green

Have stood by the curb, an enduring scene.

The leaves are all ready, the yard work is through;

We’re waiting for Mega to finish theirs, too.

We contacted Town Hall; called Mega times three:

“Is there some instruction? What might the rule be?”

“Just leave them beside your trash barrels,” they said.

So Tuesday by Tuesday, we’ve done as instructed instead.

“Please note our request in your system,” we asked,

In hopes that a crew might be given the task.

We weren’t seeking favors or jumping the queue—

Just pickup of yard waste when pickup was due.

“Your barrels need labels so crews will be clear.”

We purchased the stickers; the wording’s right here:

“YARD WASTE,” they announce, on the side of each bin—

No mystery surrounds what we’ve gathered within.

Then next door, a marvel! Their yard waste was gone,

While ours stayed behind on its curbside salon.

Same green sort of barrels, but different luck;

Apparently ours hadn’t charmed the right truck.

Another week passes; the contents remain,

Through sunshine and breezes and seasonal rain.

We’ve followed directions, made calls, done our part;

Could someone now give the collection a start?

Automation has promise; efficiency, too.

But a system is only as good as its follow-through.

A person who listens, then sees a job through,

Would make an old-fashioned idea feel quite new.

So Mega and Town Hall, a modest request:

Please give these full barrels a well-deserved rest.

We’re happy to do what the service believes—

But we’d rather turn pages than babysit leaves.

Adam Resmini

Barrington