Apr 22, 2017 NaPoWriMo, Original Poetry

Housemate, Overheard
©April 21st, 2017
By Vijaya Sundaram

He spoke above the shower –
The water running down –
A waterfall of vitriol,
Gurgling into a drain
Full of rage.

Loud he was, and angry.
I hate you, who-do-you-think-you-are
Strutting around, full of yourself,
Thinking you own the place?
You smug, self-satisfied a–h—.
Playing your music, inviting friends,
Just you wait, you f@#ker!

Downstairs, aghast, 
We looked at each other,
Eyes round like pennies
About to drop.

Jobless, hungry, secretive, single,
He clung to the form of things,
Donning a well-ironed shirt,
Neatly creased trousers, jacket,
Pretending to go to work,
Spending mornings at an Arlington diner –
And afternoons, evenings,
Who knew where?

We paid his share of the rent.
Made sure he ate dinner with us,
Afraid he might die.
Heard him rant against us
In the upstairs shower
Night after night.

Tried to reach his family.
In the end, they arrived,
A kindly old Jewish couple.
Eyes a-brim, hearts broken,
They waited with him, as he packed,
Thanked us, smiled a grateful smile,
Said a quiet, saintly goodbye,
And left.

Loneliness is a shell,
Inside, a voice beats against it
Waiting to get out.

We overheard him.
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The Day 21 NaPoWriMo prompt was to write about something overheard, and incorporate it into a poem.

Tags: #Housemate, #NaPoWriMo2017, #OriginalPoetrybyVijayaSundaram