2002/outskirts
A poet lives
on the outskirts
of town,
less from choice
than necessity,
to watch
who comes and goes,
to see Mrs. Jones’
Fed Ex package arrive,
to know who’s getting cable,
whose phone is cut
off,
where the UPS truck
went today,
what mailbox
got a birthday present
and who is crying
by the back yard fence
because their dog
has died.
5/21/02