My Neighbor - Shakespeare's Monkeys

My Neighbor

This is sad but true

I watch you
push your walker
down the driveway
to your mailbox.

Your purple hat swivels
as your eyes strain
to see
if I'm home.

I stand by the window
anticipating your knock
as you make your way
to my front door.

I wonder what
it could be today.
Another ride to the doctors
or the hair salon?

Maybe just to cry
again on my doorstep
because you haven't
slept a wink
and you need groceries
but your family
is too busy
to take you?

I wonder why
they won't help
their ninety-one year old
mother
and what you did,
if anything,
to deserve such treatment.

As you sit
at my kitchen table
I jot down
your grocery list
Then help
you into my car

1- Celticlion on May 6 2008

Well, this is a very effective piece of writing and what I really like about it is that I wasn't sure until about halfway through how you felt about the "neighbor"- so, it made me more interested. Speaking to the content, it's truly sad how the elderly are no longer valued by our culture. As if none of us is going to grow old! I'm glad you are such a kind neighbor to this lady, Jen. A good write...Catherine

2- ShannonV on May 6 2008

See- this is one of the problems of living in such a individualistic culture (as America clearly is- that is- people are out to serve themselves and as a result there isnt as high an emphasis on family). Places with more collectivistic cultures, like China, don't have this kind of problem as often. So.. to all US flag wavers: there is one thing we don't have.

I think it's really sad. Though, kudos to you for being a good person and helping her.

The poem is good, I think, because it asks the quesiton that made me think about the pondering above. And i'm sure it will make other people think of other things. People need to quesiton why people alllow things like this to happen, and what the implications of it are. Sad.

3- Shan on May 7 2008

First, i was shocked, I so expected another of your cheerful kids poems (which I love).

Althoug to be honest Jen, I have to say I really like the more serious poems you write.

This poem demonstrates not only your wonderful humanity but your sense of life.

In S3, I think if you added a decriptive word, to bring back the fact that she's using a walker, and her movements are almost slow and painful, it would make it even more dramatic.

----- Life is what happens while you wait for great things.

Life is what happens while you wait for great things.

4- Anstey on May 7 2008

I actually think the complexity of mentioning that there might be a reason is the touch that elevates this above the typical. You do not judge her family for this treatment -- because you really don't know the situation. It might be, as Shannon mentions, another typical example of the breakdown in families in society today, but then again it might not at all be typical. How do we know? So, we write the list and cart her to the store - no questions asked, except whole or 2%.

5- Jen on May 8 2008

Thanks for the comments. I wasn't sure how this would be received.

I've know this lady and the family since I was a little girl. She is very hurt by their behavior and embarrassed that she has to rely on the generosity of neighbors. I don't mind helping her from time to time but it is becoming a regular occurrence. I feel like I'm enabling her family to continue to ignore her. I don't know.

6- Anstey on May 8 2008

it's a rock and a hard place there.

7- ShannonV on May 8 2008

I feel like I'm enabling her family to continue to ignore her. I don't know.

I don't think so, I think they aren't going to help her anyway. If you don't help her, it seems like no one will.