Watching

It's 9:45 pm and a stranger walked past my mother's house
And the dog barked
And I am house and dog sitting
And listening for everything
But I did not hear the stranger's footsteps easing by
But that is the dog's job
To listen for strange steps

I am a poet, a mother, an educator and healer
I am an artist
My job is to report the news
Tell the story
Tell the stories
Tell the truth

My job is to feel and remember
To teach and to teach to tell
And rest and care
And love myself and you too
My job is to cry and laugh
And feed the dog
Who will listen for footsteps
So I don't have to