Neighbors

In the caves
there wasn’t much privacy
so you looked the other way
or got hit in the head
with a stone axe.

In the tents
there wasn’t much privacy
so you pretended not to hear,
or you were left behind
when the tribe moved on.

In the farms
there wasn’t much privacy
so you tried not to touch,
or you were put outside
and didn’t survive.

In the villages
there wasn’t much privacy
so you pretended not to notice,
or you were cast out
and didn’t last long.

In the towns
there was some privacy
so you listened and watched
but, if you got caught,
you were shunned.

In the cities
there was privacy
so you spied on your neighbors,
until you were evicted
and became homeless.