No Just No

No Just No


Suburbs and I
don't mix.
Houses sort of apart
and streets sort of quiet
and alarms out of nowhere
with lawn mowers groaning
just when you figure
that at least you can
play in the yard
and see birds.

And when you see a neighbor
and she sees you,
there's this distaste
because you're too close
and yet too far apart
and there's no context
for hello
and a smile
just scares her
into the latest mode
of suburban
hiding.

And her body language
contorts into
some odd Philadelphian version of
not ready