Westernized Neighbors Poem by RIC BASTASA

the house has a garden
at the center is the fountain
beside the walls
are birdhouses
she loves to accommodate and
feed them
the house has two parts
and there is a steeple chase
and a tower
which he painted white
at the top is the cross
symbolic of their religion
there are only two of them in this house
which they built using
their retirement funds
at night all the lights are on
any robber can have doubts
since there is a dog beside the gate
made of steel

they are so enclosed
and no one gets in
the neighbors say, (and i do not
like saying this either)
they have become
westernized which if translated simply means
(no racism intended)

selfishness, arrogance and
'it is none of their business! ! '

which means that
they are no longer part of the whole
estranged from their own color
their very own
roots, their village.