he wondered how the neighbours kept their grass so perfect

straight lines where the wheels of the mower had pressed through

sprinklers in the sunset

it is an odd endeavor to water the lawn

at least it seemed that way to him

he wondered if the outside aesthetic matched the inside

a table set with fine china, symmetrically pleasing

sparkling floors, family photos with big smiles

no fits of anger or lust or despair

not the feeling of missing someone that is in the same room

he wondered if there was a word for that feeling

he wondered if there was a word for the act of keeping your grass perfect

neurotic was the first word that came to mind

anxious, tense, high-strung

he finished cutting his grass, bagged it, put the mower away

went inside, took a drink of water

looked out the front window, considered the neighbour's lawn

he considered his and realized that although neurotic

anxious, tense, and high-strung

could be good descriptors for the feeling of missing someone in the same room

they were not accurate words to describe the act of keeping your lawn perfect

for his lawn looked meek in comparison

a few spots missed, and brown in places

and for such an anxious person

he wondered why he didnt give a fuck about the way his lawn looked

or what the neighbours would think

if he invited them in for a cup of coffee