Mike Keneally Natty Trousers
When nature was magnetic
And power lapped the shores
An instant man named neighbor
Rid his mind of social mores
He laughed out loud at senators
And louder at the priest
But smiled at every child
His natty trousers creased
His torpor was artistic
His snappy manners lean
His racism a secret
And his cigarette case green
His ugly secrets rattled
Unheard behind a door
And he checked under my bed
No nightmares anymore
And though I was a child
He made me take a grownup pill
Awakened with a feeling
The likes of which I still
Haven't had to re-experience
Until this very day
He jumped into his car
Drove away
He turned into a boy again
He couldn't see over the steering wheel
The sun could shine a million years
And neighbor wouldn't come on back to stay
