Page 24 - Contrast1991Spring

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood ...

I watch the television closely,
As Grover teaches me about near and far.
He runs up to the screen-near.
He turns and runs from me,
But before he can tell what far is,
The little blue monster's image disappears, and
Instead I see a picture of a broken-down building,
The people crying and bleeding.
My mother and father suddenly appear behind me,
Abandoning their afternoon tasks.
They both stare at the screen.
I wonder why they are so interested.
After all, Grover is gone.
I hear the man's voice mention Israel
As I pick up the doll my brother had sent me
From some place called Saudi Arabia.
I imagine the tiny doll, covered with tiny silk scarves
Is a little princess dancing in a huge palace.
After my doll's dance I return to the television.
Now a man is droning on still about Israel.
I see tears running down my mother's face.
I wonder why she is crying,
When I'm the one missing Grover's lesson.
My father is holding her hand
And whispering something in her ear.
He shakes his head when ask when Grover will come back.
I return my attention to my Arabic princess,
Until finally I see Mr. Rogers buttoning up his sweater.

"Won't you be my neighbor?" I sing,
.As my mother wipes away the tears
And returns to the kitchen.

-Dawn Barnhart

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