My neighbor died in early January.
My family didnt deem it necessary,
For me to know.
I found out late January.
It was mentioned in passing,
Like a round of town gossip.
\"It\'s such a shame she was such a nice lady.\"
I feel sick.
I remeber when I was little,
She would pick up sticks in our yard with her wheelbarrow,
And would wave and yell to me,
With the biggest smile on her face.
My grandfather says he brought her records,
For me to look at and keep if I like.
Does he know,
That every essence of her being,
Permeates them?
My dad says she had no living close relatives,
That her husband died long ago,
And that no one,
Wanted anything to do with her,
Until she was dead.
Then they came,
Hands outstretched as if expecting payment,
For leaving her.
I want to scream,
\"You dont deserve any of it\"
This world is such a cruel place.
Human nature is the true unnatural,
In this life.
The only species to look first for the benefits,
Of our dead family,
Before mourning them.
And god I pray,
That I do not become her,
An old woman living in \"complete squalor\"
No family to speak of.
I remeber my family talking about her in hushed tones,
Talking about her asking people for things.
Did we know then,
How truly miserable her last years were?
Her stove did not work,
She microwaved everything,
And ate out of throw away bowls,
From the grocery store.
I feel so horrible for not doing something,
I hope she finds family,
That loves her for her,
And not her money,
Wherever she is.