CHRIS J. MELANSON
PoetryArtworkFiction
“A Housing Complex”


On one side, a pizza man knocks on the door;
On the other side, a dead man lies on the floor.
And across the way, two guys are in a brawl;
And across the hall, two girls are baring all.
Two doors down, an older couple watches their shows;
Two floors down, newlyweds let their love start to flow.
And right next door, a widower sits alone in life;
And up the stairs, an angry man strikes his wife.

This place is full of different people,
From different places.
This place is full of different feelings,
And different faces:
White,
Black,
Yellow,
Brown…
This place is a housing complex,
In some old town.
Who knows where?
But everywhere they be,
There,
Housing people like you
And like me.

On one side, a broken heart asks for one more dance;
On the other side, a convinced heart says "no chance."
And across the way, drug dealers sell all day;
And across the hall, there’s surveillance by the D.E.A.
Two doors down, a single mom starves for her son;
Two floors down, two lustful teens want to have some fun.
And right next door, a drummer thinks out some beats;
And up the stairs, a sleeping woman’s cigarette
Starts to burn her sheets.

All Content Copyright © Chris J. Melanson. All Rights Reserved.
-Chris J. Melanson 2000