the pessimists next door

as i sit

in my bathing suit

in the back

yard, drinking lemonade

and reading

ten places to visit

before you die,

i see the man

and his wife next door digging

an enormous

hole in

their back yard.

laying bricks,

putting up lumber and steel,

concrete

walls, and

onto the roof

brushing tar.

in the end

it's a well built and well stocked

bomb shelter

for when

the big one drops.

what pessimists,

they are.