In the midst of it all, 
taking care of a friend,
on the other side of town,
feeding the dog, 
heating the soup, 
walking at sundown 
on sidewalks not my own,
everyone I pass 
looks at their phone. 
Connected. 
Disconnected. 
We do the best we can.
The dog pulls me 
on ahead, nose 
to the borderlands, 
she gets the smiles. 
It’s enough.