The man across the street
watches me leave every morning
I catch him staring at me

I smile and wave
he throws rocks
through his own windows
I would like to avoid him today

I do like it when
he grows flowers in spring
seems to smile more those days
his pill boxes overflow in Zinnia
reminds me of a wedding

In winter we shovel salt
he is subdued by the heavy air
thick mustaches and black beards
make for small talk
chit chat

This summer has been crazy hot
full of people scampering about
like ants under glass
trees full of Cicada - voices
in manic phase

Yesterday I heard him yelling at me
pacing in circles on his porch
screaming and screaming with
his ice black eyes, electrically peering
through me, at me, in me

I slap my face with water
bite my arms and pull glass
from my forehead
because it's summer
in my bathroom mirror

I just don't think
I can take the medication tonight
I'm trying hard not to look at him