Every day
you order me to wait
on the top floor
out of sight
while you climb
down our steep stairs
as you say it

with my own self

and every day
I tell you I can’t
how it’s my job
to make sure
you don’t break
like Humpty Dumpty
and wine glasses

but it isn’t this
that convinces you

it’s the final part
that you make me repeat
over and over
while we sit together
on the top step
late for wherever
we’re going

the part
about how much
your grandpa and grannies
would cry.