Neighbors

A neighbor may live next to you,
Or maybe down the street,
Someone you see frequently,
Or seldom ever meet.
One to whom you wave at morn,
As you each go on your way,
This done without a second thought,
To the other's trials that day.

A neighbor may be in another town,
And you communicate by phone,
The copper wires connect you both,
And you know you're not alone.
You speak of times long past,
Of now, and times to come,
And you feel a little closer still,
When the conversation's done.

A neighbor in another State may be,
The distance great in miles,
You contact mostly through the mail,
But it still brings out the smiles.
You send each other greeting cards,
To express a sentiment,
Perhaps to say "I miss you much,
Since we each our own way went."

A neighbor may live a world away,
In a land you'll never see,
Someone you've never met,
In this world community.
Separation by seas and speech,
Should not a difference make,
Responsibility to each and all,
Is something we should take.

©George J. Luther
1996