a radical change of pace
we keep the doors locked
when at home
and unlocked when gone
seems like the most reasonable
thing to do
most of the neighbors
have been replaced
—since we never talked to the old ones
[in the first place]
we’re not speaking
to the new
it’s like we’re living
inside a hitchcock movie
strangers viewable
through their rear windows
training birds of prey
right there
in broad daylight
the ones without feathers
probably drones
june two thousand twenty-two
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved