by Tom Adams

Created on: February 22, 2011   Last Updated: February 05, 2012

The Other Family

The other family is at it again.

You know, the one

Whose kids all have different last names;

The one that lives on the corner

With the lawn that doesn’t get cut

And the parkway that grows

Litter and beer bottles

Every Saturday night

And is weeded

Every Sunday morning.

Yesterday the shouting carried up and down the street.

The girl, who no longer goes to school—

She’s only sixteen.  Shame—

Stood up to the loud tall brother

Or cousin (or whatever)

And kicked him where you don’t kick

Unless it’s absolutely necessary.

He spat on her and cussed up blisters.

The police were almost called, but the dad

Or uncle, or whatever, intervened

And got the loud tall brother out of there. 

Neighbors could hear the kid ranting

Almost till the car was out of sight.

You always hear about the other family

When you’re growing up.

They’re the original reality show:

Drama, heartbreak, strong characterization,

And always a plot thread

Whose weave somehow keeps

The other family together.

He walks out on a Sunday morning,

One that promises sunshine

And a new prayer for a new week. 

He rolls the garbage can to the curb

And pulls the white paper weeds

That somehow blossomed overnight.

The bottles, three, quart size,

He sets aside for recycling.

This day he takes out the trash.

This day he goes to church

And prays that his family

Can be more like other families.

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