watchful

over decades, i’ve watched with quiet awe

 the family tradition of caring for our children

in gatherings by each child being watched over

by a specific adult, who interferes as little

as possible, only slipping in to teach

by pointing out or to rescue from a danger

the child did not comprehend

when other duties intervened, that adult

passed on the responsibility to another who agreed

all this nurturing happened in the background

i’ve watched the toddlers grow to understand

bit by bit and youth take on, with quiet pride,

the responsibility for teaching and protecting

the ones younger than they

the watching has been my incredible privilege