the board leaders

the community
leaders,
serious with their
clipboards
walk slowly
nodding and
murmuring to
each other, taking
notes. staring
at your house,
your yard,
that tire
leaning
against your
boxwood bush.
they point
in unison at that
rusted washing
machine
that you haven't
had time to get
out of the yard.
they write,
and make check marks
on their pads.
shaking their
heads. you see
the older man,
the president
of the board
tear a red sticker
off his roll
of stickers
and then
smooth it out
on the windshield
of your car.
then they see you
in the window,
and scurry off not
knowing if you
have a weapon of
any kind.