just past the biggest houses in
the nicest neighborhood,
she’s up, and very early, though
she’s little understood

why anyone would work for free
with no kids of her own —
but i see her as royalty,
deserving of a throne.

but, owen, that’s ridiculous.
she’s just a crossing guard —
yeah, pluto’s kind of far,
and playing chess is kind of hard,

it’s not a crossing that she guards,
but children on their way –
a task she does for love, although
few speak to her each day

but tell me: of all jobs you know
what’s closer to the summit
than to protect what isn’t yours
and then gain nothing
from it?