Who is watching
Who is watching
Waiting in darkness
Barely moving
As the lights go down
Babies sleeping
Grieving widows
Weeping
Less a spectator
More a participant
Joining the cats
On night patrol
Hackles rising
As the air moves
An imperceptible
Change
In blood pressure
A sound
Only a dog can hear
Reclining on the patio
Swing seats squeak
Even in a light wind
Brushing the hair
From a fevered brow
Easing the transition
From nightmare
To restfulness
Whispering comfort
To the lonely heart
Warming frozen fingers
Tucking them
Under warm covers
Breathing in
New life
Comforting the old
As they rise
Out of themselves
In confusion
Guarding their souls
Against the coming
Of the light
However blinding
Easing acceptance
Of leaving
When the time comes
To depart
Do they move on
Or simply remain
Waiting in shadow
As solitary guardians
Ever present
In darkness
Or in sunlight
Even in absence
Of belief.