Good Fences

good fences make good neighbors
good shutters make good homes
I can talk the talk on the front sidewalk, but inside I’m alone
this here land is my land
this here land is your
for all the good of the neighborhood we’re going to keep the rules in force
I’m really only happy when sequestered
inside my little castle on the hill
anything to keep from being pestered
oh, and crossing my perimeter will get you killed

good gateways make good cities
protection is the key
from whose who’d want to take a jaunt and get too close to me
well everything was fine until they got here
now everyone is getting up in arms
the good old days were days when they were not here
why must they be different? I don’t see the charm

some busy-body persons
have let the riff raff in
I’m no snob, but tell this mob there’s no room at the inn
this here land is your land
this here land is mine
for all the good of the neighborhood, we’re going to keep you all in line
and that’s why we’ve decided that you’re going
except we need a place to put you all for now
a place to keep the winds of change from blowing
a place for scary strangers that won’t, no, can’t allow

(c) 2008 David Stoddard