Somewhere a cleaner’ – hear the poets live

Cleaning is universal. It’s steeped in tradition and culture. It’s essential, it’s ordinary and it’s surprisingly poetic. 'Somewhere a cleaner' captures the spirit, the highs and the lows, of this occupation that often falls below the radar. The poems range across hospitals, offices, marae, clocks, schools, boat hulls, sneakers and more. The poets themselves, a mix of novice and established writers, are equally diverse. 'Somewhere a cleaner' was launched by MP Ibrahim Omer (a former cleaner) in Parliament's great hall late November 2020.