Keeping Up With The Joneses

The Vanity and Insecurity of Neighbors

Keeping Up With The Joneses

The fine line between love and hate
really does show itself in neighbors.

Nice to meet you,
but not really,
I play you false.

Cups of traded sugar and insults,
and between each other's fences.

Sending sympathy cards in the mail,
defying your claims of care and civic duty.

Not worth trifling with,
So above everyone else on the block.
But you are either bored or nosy today,
so here you trot.

Ding-dong!
Foot in the door now we're stuck.
New furniture?
Where is your husband?
Not to pry but....

I give you scratch-made fancies,
soothing teas and,
side by side narrate the asked for,
photographs for your inspection.

You seeing only the material things,
that you will copycat better,
and more expensively.

I give you a parting hug because,
I can feel you have not had one in a while.
You are your own worst enemy not mine.


by: Kimarie Freeman
July 2, 2009