Ode to Northern Virginia (1999)

Ode to Northern Virginia

I am listening to the silence in the suburbs,

It is only an artificial peace and quiet,

It is for the sake of our neighbors.

Without the agreed upon rules we would see the glint of bayonets,

Verbal attacks if we neglect our lawn,

Written warnings if we choose the color of our doors with independence.

If Thomas Jefferson lived next door,

We might complain about his garden,

But not to him directly—we have neighborhood management groups for that.

I hear the helicopters overhead,

Reminding me that charm is futile,

I forgot how close we lived to the White House.

I also forgot to eat competition for breakfast,

No, I do not like soccer or society,

Ah . . . the noisy return of the 9 to 5 crowd.

(written by Vonne in dark celebration of seven years in surburbia, 1999)