she was tall
blonde hair
not especially beautiful
unmarried
early forties
and through
thin walls
came to know
her existence
mostly alone
two years
my next door neighbor
but for a three month stretch
laughter with a man
love making with a man
perhaps happy
don’t know
then gone for awhile
came back
no hair
gaunt
Alice
the super’s wife
visiting often
speaking words
of comfort
hope
but there was
none
dead a month later
wept
really wept
we never talked.
Charles Chaim Wax
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/thin-walls/