Neighbours: REPLY RUMINATIONS TO OUR ALL-SET-RECENTLY-RETIRED-FROM-ONE-JOB NEIGHB

If I were to write
to the widow
next door,
I might ask why
“Anonymous”
complains our yard’s
not perfect enough.
I might reminder her
what a good neighbor,
and collaborator
her husband was.
I might ask if
one knee surgery, unhealed (check)
one spouse unemployed (check)
one under-employed self, with no bennies (check)
one auto collision, with injuries (check)
and four deceased immediate-family members (check)
—all in the space of three years—
qualifies us for a gossip exemption.
I might ask why
none of this
merited her attention—
not a casserole, a sympathy card,
nor even a good wish.
I might ask her to
“Stop berating
your early 60s neighbors,
too young for Medicare,
monthly retirement
or social security checks,
but too old to get back in
on their career treks.

Instead,
get off your tuffet,

grab a rake,
lend a hand.

PLEASE!”

 

Denise Buschmann

Denise C. Buschmann is a freelance editor and proofreader in Carmel,
Indiana. She started writing poetry during a master’s writing class in
2009 and has never stopped. Her poetry has been published in numerous
journals in the U.S. and the U.K. Husband, Nick, and miniature
schnauzers, Cupcake and Coco, keep her grounded. She invites guests to
stop by her rarely updated blog at http://denise103152.blogspot.com