the pop in visit

there was always

someone

popping in for a visit

at our house growing up.

friends,

neighbors.

my mother would sit for

hours,

smoking

cigarettes

at the dining room

table and drinking

coffee when

her friends would stop by

unannounced.

we all had

friends

knocking at the door,

or just coming in

and yelling

out hello.

but these days,

it's frightening

to hear a knock at the bolted

door, at any time

of the night or day.

to see

someone testing

the knob,

twisting it slowly,

gives you chills.