the apartment building

your neighbor
in the apartment
building
is cooking
goat
and cabbage
for dinner. yesterday
you heard the goat
baying. today
you don't. they
season it all
with fish oil
and the squeezings
of an old boot.
your eyes burn
from
the stench clouding
the hallway.
sometimes
they play
bongos
late at night
in celebration
of the quarter
moon,
or rain, or
wind. something
that gets them
excited, like
sunlight.
despite all of
that, they are
good neighbors.
they bow when
they see you
in the laundry room,
in their colorful
princely robes
and jewels.
they call you mister
and invite you
over for the super
bowl. sometimes
you'll offer them
a stick of gum,
which they'll take
gratefully, both
of you chewing
and smiling
as the elevator
descends
to the lobby.