Family Our laughter penetrated your uneasy dreams, Our carefree midnight run vibrated in your ear, Glass ground against metal as your window rasped open, Followed by curses that chased our silenced feet inside. Waking up I smelled the grey fumes of your cigarette, Mingled with the cold morning air and your solitude, And I heard your scowl brooding in the leaden clouds, The warmth of your room oppressed by the winter frost. Leaving home a bright green car blocked your path, You threw up a flabby arm and smacked it against the horn, A sharp honk rolled off the teenage boys unnoticed, Your foreign obscenities only disturbed the puppy on your lap. That day the smell of cucumbers and lilacs followed you home, Smoothed the creases in your face and kissed your cheeks, Let you place the puppy in her arms and usher her inside, The words 'thanks, mom' steaming in the coldness of the still air. Explanation: The next door neighbor in my apartment is usually a very cold and irritable fun-spoiler, but whenever her daughter comes over, she relaxes and laughs. Which is cool .