Watching

I am up 

with the sun, 

an ancient plate 

in danger of breaking 

holds pancakes 

and fruit.

I wait 

I watch. 

The earliest wakers 

all have dogs. 

Later, 

large gaggles 

of kids 

meander 

towards the bus stop 

while their younger siblings 

race 

with too-big backpacks 

bouncing 

with every bound. 

Then 

there is quiet 

pierced by bird conversation 

and babies crying 

on their walks 

with parents. 

At lunch

a field trip

in bright green t-shirts

wanders by.

Three o'clock

brings back yellow buses

and tired kids.

At five, 

the ice cream truck 

lures kids 

to its jingling window.

More dog walkers

come by

and slowly

the day

ends

where

it

started.

My pancakes

took

all day

to eat,

and grew cold.

Now,

I am back

wrapped in a fleece blanket

on my porch.