There Goes The Neighbourhood (Poetry)

On cloudy days it doesn’t
look too bad —
there’s grass and trees —
a sense of light and space
not too much litter strewn
about the place
it’s almost decent
quiet enough for birds.

But when the sun comes out
the scene transforms —
the locals crawl from underneath
their rocks
and bask like lizards
uglying the lawn
some wash their cars
with stereos full blast
my peace disrupted —
the illusion gone.

And yak-yak-yak
their conversation grates
and yap-yap-yap
annoying dogs run loose
along with brats whose screams
slice the air.

I bang the window
closed again.
Get on my mental knees
and pray
for cleansing
rain.