It’s not about creating distance.
But my neighbor’s nostrils flare
in defensive annoyance
when I tell him our plan.
On bright days his south-facing wall
casts a white-hot glare
through our living room windows.
Instead of hanging heavy drapes,
we’ll plant trees between our houses.
I point to the bare place in the lawn.
We’ll put a line of sun-lovers there—
red bud, stewartia, Asian pear.
Spring pastel and autumn flame
not to shut out, but to share.