Misdeeds

Children playing cricket
In front of others’ gates,
Their own homes secure
No broken window panes
Garbage thrown near houses,
Food laid on flying newspapers;
Their own areas kept clean,
Poor long-suffering neighbours
Rows of huge trees for shade
Grown along dividing walls,
Neighbours’ walls get cracked
And gutters blocked with leaves
No one can control them,
A law unto themselves
Informing them is so useless
Nobody to hear the woes
Best is to bear with humour
Than fight over these misdeeds,
Fights will lead to animosity;
Will lead to more disasters 

- Prasadini Nugawela