I’ve tried with my co-residents for years,
to get them to respect, in courtesy,
our smattering of shared stuff. It appears
my efforts just collect futility.
They overload the landfill, and don’t bend
their cardboard back to flat. Economy
of space and time don’t with them seem to trend.
Their aims appear to angle differently.

So after ten and seven years, wherein
I had to pass their garbage in my path
from door to curb, I sighed in oxygen
and then exchanged initiative for wrath.
I swapped the placement of the ugly cart,
and felt new lightness in my head and heart.