When nature was magnetic And power lapped the shores An instant man named neighbor Rid his mind of social mores He laughed out loud at senators And louder at the priest But smiled at every child His natty trousers creased His torpor was artistic His snappy manners lean His racism a secret And his cigarette case green His ugly secrets rattled Unheard behind a door And he checked under my bed No nightmares anymore And though I was a child He made me take a grownup pill Awakened with a feeling The likes of which I still Haven't had to re-experience Until this very day He jumped into his car, Drove away. He turned into a boy again He couldn't see over the steering wheel The sun could shine a million years And neighbor wouldn't come on back to stay