Will You Be My Neighbor?

It’s the monotony.

It’s day after day alone

in the apartment. 

Turn on the radio 

only to hear human voices 

so someone is talking out loud 

beside you. All this time 

the same thing every morning 

waking to feel your bed

only full of dreams,

why the same, the same

every night alone holding

the inevitable lonely 

empty self you thought 

would be different

so many times. You shouldn’t

say this out loud

sounds crazy, obsessed,

makes people uncomfortable

it’s private—it’s invasive 

don’t say that sometimes

you cry, you are so finished.

It’s too much to mention

but talk radio says

you could die 8 years early

due to this. An epidemic 

in the middle of being

surrounded by millions of folks 

every day and long night 

of your life and no one 

comes to visit.

Don’t complain.

You are nice, it’s true

you don't know the folks

on this block after 15 years.

 “Hello” and rarely a briefly chat. 

Why is this not enough? Why

not do something different?

Virtual meetings are not 

suggested as a remedy. 

You need breath

warm on your face,

a live voice, someone

who touches you

with their bare hands.

3-20-25