What? Another house torn
down? Can you believe it?
A neighbor calls to me
as we meet at the corner
of demolition and destruction,
each on our divergent morning
walks. We commiserate for
a moment; I, mirroring and
amplifying, wax enthusiastic
about the bothersome noise:
Comes right in my window
while I’m trying to meditate —
harumph!
We point and count together
the number of houses in this
despicable state of reconstruction,
nodding in dismay,
and, as we wave and part,
I glimpse her widening grin —
this woman I never met before –
and sense a wave of optimism
buoying me along on my way
past the rubble.
