The Guard

Just below
The surface — often, on
The surface —

There lies the undercurrent
The sense —
Of foreboding
Of something —
Slipping past

Of something —
That might — could happen
Had there not been —
Were there not
The guard —

Standing beside
Behind, and before
Each one
Of our moves —

Protecting — being —
For us
The absence of us
Underneath
The undercurrent