September twilight—
 
the dog at my neighbor’s house
 
barks incessantly.

 
 

My next-door neighbor
 
never deadheads his roses—
 
petals fall like snow.

 
 

At my neighbor’s house
 
weeds outpace the marigolds—
 
prodigal summer.

 
 
 

On Valentine’s Day
 
a crow in my neighbor’s oak
 
croaks out sweet nothings.

 
 
 

A stiff autumn breeze
 
drives leaves from neighboring trees
 
into my backyard.

 
 
 

Autumn afternoon—
 
my neighbor’s cigarette smoke
 
drifts across my fence.

 
 
 

“The school bus is here!”
 
my neighbor calls to her son—
 
summer slips away.

 
 
 

A crack in the fence—
 
I can see the grass has died
 
in my neighbor’s yard.

 
 
 

While I sip my tea,
 
my neighbor’s nosy roses
 
keep peering at me.

 
 
 

My neighbor’s daughters
 
keep practicing soccer moves—
 
shimmering heat waves.