Sentry Duty

I only wanted to take out the trash; I didn’t expect all these questions!

Sentry Duty

by Jay Eldred

Darkness before light,

broken only by street lamps:

“Who goes there? Who? Who?”

 

It’s only the owl

watching me take out the trash

and asking “Who? Who?”

 

He’s seen me before,

but he never remembers

asking me “Who? Who?”

 

He flies from the branch,

leaving the dead tree behind,

still asking “Who? Who?”