I am blessed
that I have a building
with a view
of my many neighbors
across the street.

Just look at them!
Imagine the panoply of stories available
via this screen before me
– this bug screen on my window.
Think of the stories I could tell
simply by telling tales
of my neighbors.

Tessa has many boyfriends.
Some come calling
on the very same night.
They enter, then enter
then depart quite quickly.
I’ve seen not one stay til dawn’s early light.

Line Cook Todd is often quite nervous
of the Internal Revenue Service.
He wastes away days
throwing money away
when I’d pay him to simply hors d’oeuvre us.

On the fourth floor, Tommy and Tiny dance
never knowing I’m watching all times.
I take photos at times on the offest of chance
I’ll catch one of them in some rhythmic crime.

The names have been made up
of course
to protect the guilty.
I don’t know the identities
of the people across the way.
But I smile at them
sometimes
on the street
knowing how much entertainment
I’ve gotten from them
all of these lonely days.

Truly
I am blessed
but also
I am cursed
that I have to dress
lest my neighbors look across the avenue
to take my measure
as I do theirs.