A Renter Among Owners
by Greg Scharf
From my 2nd story
window
I look down
on my neighbor
as he sends
gales
of smoke
from his barbecue
up to the gods
who’ve blessed
him
and his ilk
with cheap
theme casino
luck
and minor
lifetime
loves
paying off
like 2 cherries
on an obnoxious
nickel slot.
He looks up
and hesitantly waves
at me,
the lone lunatic
in this 5th circle
middle class
hell,
as I listen
to Glenn Gould
make Bach
sound human
with Sinfonia
No. 9 in F minor,
a feat
that gives me
enough courage
to blow
cigarette smoke
in the face
of lady luck,
and maybe even
enough strength
to stop obsessing
about having
one late night
encounter
with my neighbor’s
big assed,
big titted tease
of a wife.