neighbors

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.