The Olive-Green Sweeper

A parlour in Ohio on a summer morning, sunlight through lace curtains onto a patterned carpet, on it an upright electric suction sweeper, a flat olive-green nozzle with fine red and gold pinstripes, behind it a round olive-green motor housing with red lines and small gold ornaments, a small plain metal plate on top, a nickel-plated yoke carrying a long light-brown wooden handle, a long cream cloth bag hanging from the handle, a braided cord running up to a brass adapter in the lamp socket of the ceiling fixture, a hand in a long white sleeve at the grip, a carpet beater leaning against the wallpaper, every surface plain and unmarked.