(neighbor)

I think I spend
more time with
my neighbor
than my husband.
Not up close, of course,
but watching his actions
as I eat my lunch
or sweep the porch.
Trying to understand,
as I do try to understand
the actions of men,
why he moves
his lawn furniture
from this spot
to that.
Why he shifts
the piles of lumber
back and forth.
I think, listening
to him power saw
the pepper limbs
he cut down last summer,
if only there was
a funeral to go to
every day,
how much easier
marriage might
be.

2/11/99