Neighbors

The neighbors across the street were yelling
at each other. They hurled the racial epithet
of America's first sin as easily as a pitcher
hurling a ball to a catcher. Summer heat

baked the walls of homes and tensions
of the day until they spilt over when people
are trying to get children to sleep, or trying
to rest before waking at six a.m. Someone

yelled at them to "shut the fuck up." It didn't
go over well. I thought about calling the police;
they're the same neighbors who mauled the rear
of my car a year ago. I won't call the cops tonight.

If it happens tomorrow I will. That is, unless one
of the other neighbors does so first.