Barbara's eyes light up with hundreds of fireflies
right around 8 o'clock
keeping watch over the neighborhood
long after she has moved out
driven by debt.
this is little bit after the time
that her young and dark neighbor
who never greets lonely women
is done walking his dog.
this is long after the other neighbor
has finished cleaning the garden,
the car or the boat,
smiled to the little children passing by,
all the meanwhile
keeping his grown up opinions
vehemently quiet, yet heard.
thus summer goes by swinging between
day and night,
hanging by
the light of the moon,
the calm of the lake,
the pressure of heat,
and the dishes we bring
to the party with us, to share
for this potluck we have
in our neighborhood
longing for Barbara' s laugh
and sure stride.
