I stand proudly in
reflective neon orange vest,
white gloves,
para-police cap,
hand-held stop sign
that I wield
like a battle shield.

I am charged with
safe passage of children,
as I brought my own up
through the world,
to reach the other side
unharmed.
I am their lighthouse,
their buffer,
guardian at the gate,
Charon of the crosswalk.

So many years
I followed the flow,
yielded to others,
my husband,
his stifling hand.
But now for the first time
in my life
I have a power –
I part cars like waters.
I stop traffic.



[First published in Alembic, Winter 2000/2001]

10/06/2001

Posted on 10/06/2001
Copyright © 2025 Bruce W Niedt