bathtub

Sitting in the bath tub
my legs dangling over the side
feet moving rhythmically back and forth
the only place i can think
and it may sound silly
the only place no one will bother me

murmers outside the miniscule window overhead
cars starting, neighbors chattering, gossip and wind
its all just wind swirling around rocks and dirt
and words
i take a sip of my water and set it carefully on the edge
as if im a native in a forest
barely breathing
attempting to go under the radar
not wanting to be sensed, detected
by anyone on the outside
the enemy

The most i have learned about my neighbors have been from this cold white box
people reveal the most about themselves when they are unaware
that anyone is watching
someone is always watching,
or listening
from my small window i can hear their conversation
whether it's with a fellow neighbor
or with themselves
sometimes it's with God
all that matters is that they can be true somewhere
and i love listening to the storiesl
ike a swallow that built its nest in the eave of a house
if they only knew

they don't know that i know more than most will about them
because no one else bothers to listen
caught up in ourselves
we are talented actors
performing on a stage called everyday all the time
standing ovation for you all, you have deceived everyone
but i would rather sit in a bathtub than be in a play