Precautionary

When you set something down, and
start to turn, step away
double-take - turning back
with a hitch as you go, arm
out straight back at it
and point!

Stay there.

You don't say it.

The gesture is
unmisinterpretable,
anyway come on

It's an object. An
inanimate object, it
isn't a pet or a baby

did you set it down
on an unsteady surface? What
was the purpose? Are all your
surfaces too full, can't you just

no, that's no good. Set it down
on the floor, it gets tripped over,
stepped on, forgotten but - Look,

I realize you're just
stepping away for a minute

but as soon as you get back,

that thing will be gone.