Michael Monnier
Montreal’s pockets are full of cigarette butts and all kinds of trash.
She’s taking off her big white winter coat.
Perched on his wheelchair, Roland is sad to see her in this condition.
“My neighborhood, my city is dirty now. I can’t let her stay like that.”
In front of surprised bystanders, the 75-year-old man cleans her. One by one, he picks up filthy cigarette butts, bare-handed. Chunks of vomit, not disgusted.
Soiled plastic bags, soggy cardboard, he collects them carefully.
Slowly, he puts winter’s trash in his little gray bag.
“When my bag is full, there is always someone to help me drop it in the trash bin.”
Far from completing his colossal work, he returns to his old folks’ home.
“Of course, I’ll be back later!”
To free Montreal’s pockets full of cigarette butts and all kinds of trash.
