Night Skies

     Our neighborhood grew greatly in the Covid migration. Houses were purchased sight unseen and every available lot was built on. Instead of twenty houses on our street, we now have fifty. Many of the buyers were Californians. But the ones I have met are the good kind, they wanted to escape the lunacy of Liberal Land. So when Covid forced many people to work from home, some of them like our neighbors, asked themselves, Why am I living in southern California, which I hate, when I can work from home and live wherever I want? They did not come to Montana to change our lifestyle. They came to embrace it.

    Unfortunately, one big city idea followed them here--leaving bright porch lights on day and night prevents crime. Maybe it does, but the house they bought sat empty for six years with only one dim light on near the front door, and it was never broken into or vandalized. Since our end of the cul-de-sac does not even have street lights, the new neighbors' nonstop night light nuisance, has dramatically changed our view of the night skies. This is my lament about that. 

Night Skies 

Our neighbors from across the street

are among the nicest you could meet.

The problem is, when they moved in

our star filled nights came to an end. 

 

Those from bigger cities might

think danger flees if porch is bright,

but safety pales when it denies

the gleam of stars in inky skies.

 

I miss the beauty of the night

before the glare of their porch light.

They won't be safer, should they soon 

have lighting that outshines the moon.

 

Our home was safe enough before

without a beacon at our door, 

so too was theirs before they came.

And night skies have not been the same.