february
     welcome to
     the neighbourhood


     i notice
     that your daughter's
     tricycle has streamers
     attached

     so i assume
     you are of
     pleasant folk


     a few years back this
     wouldn't have been
     your sort of place
     but the heroin addicts
     are mostly around the block

     now

     so it's
     nicer
     than it
     was.


     i am writing in part to
     apologize in advance for the
     hysterical piano

     at irresponsible hours of the morning

     and for the
     pictureframe-shaking volume
     of my solitary
     nine am
     dance parties


     and
     for if you ever look in my window
     and see me dancing inappropriately

     or
     at all


               (it is not
               a pretty sight)


     hoping that
     you have
     unpacked
     enough boxes
     to make
     a great fort,
     - the cameron girl

september
     thank you for not calling the cops when i
     skulk about in the rain--

          the people
          across the way
          did that
          a couple of years back
          and my walks home
          from the bus stop
          have just never
          been the same


     i would like to
     apologize for
     being unable to cook
     without singing;

     i realize that the wall
     between my kitchen and yours
     is not impenetrable.


     on that note,
     i'd like to thank you
     for never mentioning
     the blood-curdling
     screams

     that issue from my living room
     with startling frequency


     i just get
     overwhelmed
     sometimes


     don't worry about it.


     liking what
     you've done
     with the garden,
     - the cameron girl

may
     thank you for
     letting your daughter
     talk to me
     when i was sleeping
     on my porch

     and thank you for buying her
     such a nice pink coat

     and thank you
     for cooking
     such delicious foods.

     i don't know
     what they are
     but they make
     my stairwell
     smell great.


     holding out
     for the postman
     to get confused
     so i have a reason
     to knock on
     your door,
     - the cameron girl