My neighbor doesn’t break down cardboard,

recycle plastic, cans, paper, booze bottles,

shrugs at me as I watch him from behind

throw in his unbagged trash

I’ve seen him bully through intersections,

zip in and out of traffic without a signal,

stick a radar detector on his dashboard,

send up outlawed rockets on The Fourth

I hear him complain about the country going

downhill, welfare mothers, homeless people,

asylum seekers, the politically correct

Haven’t seen his tax returns or heard he

beats his wife or kicks his angry dog

I’d let him pass me on the highway though

Dark out there at night.