It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
(theme from “Misterrogers”)
Nan is outside watering pots of basil
she shares with our whole building.
Her boyfriend planted the sunflowers
that gaze right back at me as I write this.
Mohammed is heading out for school
on the new bike his cousin gave him.
He’s studying to be an engineer,
and his uncle is ready to take him on board.
Ra’jel came by and dropped off two dishes…
Ethiopian cooking, so hot it will peel the skin
off your tongue, but so good with a cold beer.
And the warm, sticky bread, like heaven.
Honey! You’re home early. I already got the mail,
just junk, but why do folks leave most of theirs
on the floor of the mail room?
(“Because they know you’ll clean it up.”)
We’ll have a swim in the complex’s pool
before cooking out on the patio…
but we’ll wait awhile, because right now
Demond and Yasir are going at it with squirt guns.
I love this building. It’s like the United Nations
except that everyone gets along pretty well,
and when we don’t get along, we wait a spell
for the hurt to heal… and try again.
© 2011 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
I will always be grateful to Captain Kangaroo and Misterogers for presenting to children the peaceful side of life, filled with positive lessons, crafts, and the occasional giggle. Also, Fred Rogers (please don’t post that he was a war hero, check Snopes.com first!) wrote the theme song, which he sang while putting on his sweater and sneaks. I wanted to keep the poem as sweet as the song, in answer to a prompt at Poetic Bloomings, a new site. Hope I succeeded! This is also at Poets United – go read some other poets there as well! Amy
Sharp Little Pencil 
Judith
Love the idea of a tiny United Nations. And when we lived in Montreal my kids watched Captain Kangaroo but alas, we’ve never had it here.
Sharp Little Pencil
They took him off the air – also Misterogers. About the second, the networks said, “His show is no longer relevant for today’s children.” I just about cried when I read that comment. Shame on them! Thanks, Judith!
Tilly Bud
This reads like a real-life movie or tv show. In Hollywoodland there is always a wide ethnic mix that gets along fine; it’s nice to know it’s based in fact!
Sharp Little Pencil
Yes, here in Madison we have folks from EVERYWHERE, which sometimes amazes me because I can’t imagine folks from, say, very warm parts of Africa would much appreciate our winters. Ditto parts of the Middle East and Mexico, but there you go. And the fact that our colleges and university are downtown is sweet, because the culture is reflected everywhere, especially in the food. Lex and I had dinner at an Afghani-owned restaurant called Kabul. The food was fantastic and the service so friendly, warm. Small business is big here. Thanks, Linda! Amy
Debbie
You did a wonderful job portraying just what you were trying to. sigh. lovely and I want to be there too! Thank you!
Sharp Little Pencil
Debbie, our whole building is like the United Nations, except no gavels or NYC traffic! Amy
vivienne Blake
A wise and happy poem. I love this slice of what I hope is your real life.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Viv, and YES! It is, in our little apartment complex here in Madison, our own little UN. Peace, Amy
Susannah
I love this. What a great place. 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
And I get to live here! Thanks, Susannah, and peace to you and yours. Amy
Roger Green
so are you wearing a cardigan sweater?
Sharp Little Pencil
Yeeeeessssss…. um, what are you wearing? Ha ha ha. Sounded kinky there for a second! Amy
booguloo
Sounds like a great neighborhood. Mr Rogers was always a gracious target and a kind man.
Sharp Little Pencil
Michael, I agree. So sad that TV now considers him out of date. Good values and gentleness should never be out of date for our children. Amy
TheMsLvh
Followed your story with ease. Wonderful choice of words here. I could smell the basil. United Nation complex, great comparison
Sharp Little Pencil
Oh, I just cooked tonight using some of that fresh basil as I waved to the sunflowers. Nancy and Paul are a wonderful couple. Been together for years, and we sit and chat on their porch in the afternoons. She’s a “game girl,” you know, old hippie like me.
Thanks so much for this. When they asked for a song prompt, I had to go to Misterogers, because I watched him first as a teenager (!) and later as a mom, with my Riley. Thanks so much for stopping by my neighborhood! Amy
Sherry Blue Sky
Lovely living in the United Nations – the way the United Nations should be! I loved this glimpse of your neighborhood, Amy. You landed in the perfect spot!
Sharp Little Pencil
I’ll say, especially since our last town was so tragically WHITE! Ha ha, yes, we are indeed in the right place. Madison in general, and this building in specific. Love, Amy
Jae Rose
Ah, this is the calm after the electricity of ‘Whose Side..’ the god inside us all that naturally urges to like each other ..even though what we see around us suggests we shouldn’t even look at our neighbour..unless it’s to size up their plasma TV..Jae
Sharp Little Pencil
Yes, Jae, it’s true – I needed the palette cleanser. Kind of a sorbet post.
I look at all my neighbors, and they peek in on me! We are really open at this building, and I love it. Peace, Amy
Daydreamertoo
Lovely, if only the whole world could learn to do the same!
Sharp Little Pencil
Amen to that! Amy
liv2write2day
I love the homey feel you’ve created in your neighborhood. Would that it extended throughout the world.
Sharp Little Pencil
Amen to that, Victoria! Amy
Inside the Mind of Isadora
I loved Mr. Rogers. I watched him all the time with my three daughters. I always found it fascinating when he took off his shoes and jacket and put on his sneakers and sweater. Now, he was home and ready to relax. He was a great teacher and children just found him to be fun. His puppets were so crude and simple but they always did the job. Thanks for the walk down memory lane.
Toodles, Isadora
Sharp Little Pencil
When the corporate media declared him “no longer relevant to today’s children,” I had a hissy fit. What I think they meant is that they didn’t want children seeing anything but “macho men” on the airwaves, sticking to the old stereotypes. Fred Rogers was a Presbyterian pastor, I believe, but he never put a Christian spin on anything – he was just kind, loving, and gentle. Those values never go out of style for me! Glad you and your kids loved him too. Capt. Kangaroo was another hero of mine… Love, Amy
contemplativemoorings
I understand them taking Mr. Rogers of the air…times have changed…but clearly they haven’t changed for the better…
Sharp Little Pencil
Hey, Michael,
Times change, as you said, but I don’t understand taking Mr. Rogers off the air, except for sponsors, et al, calling the shots. Too much Baby Einstein, not enough parents reading quietly with their children. Too many gizmos, not enough block and Lincoln Logs. Too much animated crap, not enough gentle souls like Fred Rogers. Thanks! Amy
akweelife
Oh gosh, you sure brought back the memories here! And yes, you kept this in complete keeping with the song. Mister Rogers would be pleased 🙂 I grew up with Capt. Kangaroo and Mr. Green Jeans, Bunny and the moose, oh no, what was his name? And Mister Rogers, and Winnie the Pooh. I have done the best I could to pass on what I learned from them, and Daddy who was so like them in character and nature, to my son. I’m afraid our world suffers too much for lack of men like them all today. Your building also reminds me so much of when I lived in NY with my brother, and then later all my years in South Louisiana. I loved the cultural mix. Here, well, we’ll just say it’s sadly not so mixed. Thank you. I really appreciate all the things you have reminded me of in this poem.
Hugs, Light and Love to you.
Sharp Little Pencil
Kwee, I was hooked on all these, and well past the years I should have been, but I remember hearing Capt. Kangaroo cut construction paper with those “kid” scissors. That sound is one engrained in my memory. Also, the way the music stopped when he put his key on that little hook? I believe it was Mister Moose, wasn’t that his name? I LOVED Bunny Rabbit, what a sweet character. Fred Rogers is one of my all-time favorites, and I’m so glad you have passed on Daddy’s lessons to your son. “Teach your children well…”
Our past post was in an all-white community, so I am in heaven here, many languages… I even get to speak la espanol once in a while! (Sorry, I don’t know how to put a tilde on that “n”)
Hugs right back, and much love, Amy