NEIGHBOUR
"I watched them take off
In all different directions
That family" she said.
"And when the old man dies
Back they all come
From everywhere,
Alex from New Zealand!"
"You'd think" (arms crossed now)
They'd paint the peeling fence
Before they sold the house.
But that's just me.
Bet your bottom dollar
(she glances at No. 14 and nods)
It'll be Tom'll mow the grass"
20 comments:
Thats a cool poem ,real observational, rings true. And like a lot of good poems it kind of worked on two levels it made me smile at first and then the sadness hit me too.I really like it.Thanks for joining in!
I loved the "arms crossed now" part. Simple and perfect. I liked this a lot, Pam!
TFE is right. There are levels and layers there. You painted quite a true picture with your words.
Pam, loved it. How can we be 10,000 miles apart yet live in the same village.
Ah, that's the world, isn't it.
Observation excellent, and I like the spareness of the delivery too.
Way cool!
Like TFE's comment, this has a truth that rings a little with sadness now, doesn't it? Enjoyed reading this, T.O.!
Oh...and how lovely it was to see those spring flowers...The trees (and humans) are showing fall hues up here in New England. ; )
Ah where would we be without neighbours they live the world over and always have something to say. Well caught in your poem.
xx
Very creative - great shot of the fence's shadow. Thanks for visiting Monastery Daily Photo.
Pam,
I look around this big house that needs to be cleaned, painted and modernized. It won't happen til Dad is gone. I'll probably mow the lawn!
This poem touched a tender spot in my heart.
P.S. Thanks for visiting my blog - turn about is fair play!
Clever poem, Pam. Wish I could write like that (and think like that!)
Interesting what you said on my blog about the change in your hottest month. Not so obvious here in the last year or two.
Fences don't keep all of us apart, do they?
Lovely! I really like that.
Horay! someone else chose the fence picture besides me! I loke the naturalness of the language - a very human poem, well observed. Mine (if you're interested) is here.
Excellent poem - real story-telling in there, and such a genuine voice. Very enjoyable!
Wow! What a great little slice of life you have evinced from the chunkk of fence. I really liked it-- especially the last smug line.
that's a sly bit of writing. as with rachel i loved the story telling, narrative aspect of it, plus that barbed simplicity.
those apostrophes were jaggy on my eyes tho!
Wow. Incredible poem, and so perfect with the picture.
Terrific! I love a poem with attitude. Although it's set in your half of the world, it also sounds a whole lot like a Jewish mother to me.
Really nice take on the photo - interesting the way you spliced the poem around it as well. Lovely.
thanks Pam for the very sweet comment ... it thrills us that Miss Winnie Dixon is known and loved way, way, way down under.
Much love from toute la Gang xo S.
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