He stood there with feet apart,
Trying to find a place to start,
His story of woes and many a begone
He knew that his neighbor was seriously wrong.
They had once been close as neighbors are
Sharing sometimes a ride in the car.
Or when the mower was broke, it mattered not
For one or the other was there on the spot.
Where had they gone astray
It was difficult to remember that day.
Seems that they each had an opinion
On what was certainly something to spin on.
Started as just a simple meeting of the minds
When they shared a cup of coffee grinds.
The neighbor was sure that all would be right
If he would just see the light.
'Don't park your truck in front of my house, please'
Was the request from the neighbor. Oh jeeze.
'Why not, ' slipped out in a mindless way
And there the words between them were sure to stay.
'Well it just doesn't look right
And all would agree it's not a pretty sight.
Besides you could easily park in the back
Where no one will see the stuff in the sacks.'
From there the conversation went,
If you can call the heated vent
Of air that was exchanged from them both
As each added to the froth.
Up he got and away he did walk,
No longer was he to the neighbor talk.
His daughter had been seeing the neighbor it's true,
And he warned her that there was no more of that do.
And at the Post Office where he worked it came to be known
That the friendship had ended, it was surely blown.
From the other side's opinion
The University learned that the friendship's suspended.
Matters went from bad to worse
As each seemed to be under a curse.
The city for some reason came and the truck towed away
Seems a complaint had been filed the previous day.
Tit for tat was the answer and it soon came true
As the tax accessor payed a visit next door, seems an amount was due.
A lien was placed on the house till paid
And a new assessment was also laid.
From that the feud flowered, it that's the word
As bad feelings bloomed and 'things' were heard.
The daughter was accused as running around
A very evil thing to say in a small country town.
The student discovered that he was in jeopardy
Of dismissal for his grade reports were suddenly tardy.
And he was called before the chairman to discuss
Among other things, what was the reason for the fuss.
He laid the cause to his neighbor who
Apparently was now threatening to sue.
Forgotten in all the discussion was the truck and its load
Of unmentioned sacks in which garbage was stowed.
And at the Post Office the worker was called in
It seems that this protest could result in his job to suspend.
Cool it, to them the suggestion was made
Or else be prepared to be out on the streets without any shade.
So each decided to live next door to the one who
Each acknowledged the end of the feud.
And there it would rest except once in the bar
The post man happened to comment on their war.
'He's given me a reason you see
To live long and outlive the likes of he.
And when he's dead and resting in the ground
Then to the cemetery I'll make my last round.
I'll thank the Good Lord for all the Lord's given
And ask him to forgive the sins of the one now in Heaven.
Then I'll piss on his grave.'
Sidi J. Mahtrow