Neighbours

We live side by side In identical houses Leading parallel lives You in your home Me in mine I see you every day Same place Similar time Different clothes Fresh hair and make-up We exchange pleasantries The weather, family, health Superficial details shared The illusion of connectedness Furthered and maintained As we fill in random gaps In the tapestry of our lives We scurry away Me back to my house You back to yours As the front door closes I imagine your life And wonder fleetingly Is it easier than mine? Are you happy? Are you more fulfilled? Are your whites whiter? Then I reimmerse myself in today Thoughts of you set aside For now at least In the knowledge that tomorrow The cycle will rinse and repeat And our paths will cross again