Responsibility

By John I. Blair

Decades-long as time goes
I’ve fed and watered
Every living thing that moves.

My song was always
Caring for my fellow critters
The only way I knew.

But now I’m old and breakable,
Dragging heavy bags and garden hoses
Down steps and over pavement cracks,

Hefting awkward feeder tubes,
One of these days, as true as true,
Would lay me low, useless at my other tasks.

So I’ve concluded it is time to quit
And deal with questions of responsibility,
Right and wrong,
Later, from the safety of my windows.

©2021 John I. Blair 12/27/2021