Sandwiched

Balloons, bubbles, and backyard bouncing
new baby cousin watches with wonder
birthday celebration on my backyard neighbor’s deck
seen from my back window

From the front window another scene
friends and family with plates of food
offerings for grieving survivors of
my across-the-street neighbor who died

Me, in between the two houses
isn’t that how it is?
birth and joy
death and grief
with vicissitude of life
happening in between

In loving memory of our wonderful neighbor, Dago.