My Job

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 My Job 


“Your job on vacation, mom,

is to write more poems.” 


I can assure you, my friends,

that child is not wrong.


But it’s also to make sure everyone eats,

drinks water, has sunscreen, stops— in time— most of the time. 


Most importantly though, is to really mean it

when you play whiffle ball, or roh-sham-bow.


Kids can’t stand a faker— so your best defense 

to keep them from walking into oncoming traffic

is really this. 


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