Moonlighting

Days I'm a lifeguard
At the township park,
Helping lost children find their parents,
Diverting teenage riots,
And scooping cigarettes from the sand
With a specially altered
Dog-doo shovel.
Nights I take care of my family -
My mother, father, baby brother
And myself.
First thing through the door I check on mother -
Conscious or not? Yes, conscious.
I wade through the bedside pills
And fluff a pillow,
Proceeding from there to the kitchen
Where an angry,
Inebriated male
Impatiently waits for his dinner.
"First the baby,"
I say, making room on the stovetop
To heat the little formula provided.
He curses, crushing his empty
And grabbing another,
Baby brother crying in the background
Throughout.

Days I'm a lifeguard
At the township park.
Nights I save people from drowning.