The man on TV digs another hole in an unkempt yard.
The teens approaching avert their eyes
from the owl on the eaves of the porch.
It's a clear day, and they're here for help.
Teach us how to fight, they say.
He puts down the shovel. 
He'll do it, he says,
for a ride into town & $30.

I'm watching, stretched out again, exhausted from 
reading & thinking. The kids are happy & on their own,
doing homework, gaming, playing with the dog. They'll learn
enough to leave me alone for good one day, making their own ways.

May they be safe, & smart. May they know when to return.
And may I have the strength & wisdom they need. 

Sonnet inspired by Reservation Dogs S1:E3.