Neighbours Poem by Supriya Prathapan

It is a fact universally acknowledged,
By both the poor and the privileged,
That the people living in one's neighbourhood,
Know nothing about brotherhood!

Your failure gives them immense pleasure,
While your success increases their blood pressure.
Your neighbours are properly pained by your few promotions,
And they secretly celebrate your many demotions.
Your new acquisitions, they never fail to discern.
While an increase in your income becomes a matter of common neighbourhood concern.
Your neighbours always envy your happy family life,
And these sadists, often sow the seeds for strife.
They suffer from misery great,
When you manage to shed some weight.
It causes them much distress,
When you wear an expensive dress.
They begrudge everything you own,
When you are happy, they secretly moan.

That's why it is a fact universally acknowledged,
By both the poor and the privileged,
That the people living in one's neighbourhood,
Know nothing about brotherhood!