The Lessor Speaks by Ben Nardolilli

 

 

They asked me how I didn’t know, 

and I tell them

he was quiet,

he kept to himself,

he paid the rent on time,

and he never even stayed out late

or cleaned away his crimes

using our bathroom

or our sink,

and then I remind 

the cameras and the commenters

who scoff with disbelief

and criticize me under my quotes

that most men

who are quiet,

who keep to themselves,

who pay the rent on time,

and never stay out late

kill no one, 

not even themselves,

they wait out the clock,

survive until the end of the month,

and go on 

as long as necessary,

and they are ignored by you

and by me, because 

they don’t start revolutions either

 

___

Ben Nardolilli currently lives in New York City. His work has appeared in Perigee Magazine, Red Fez, Danse Macabre, The 22 Magazine, Quail Bell Magazine, Elimae, The Northampton Review, Local Train Magazine, The Minetta Review, and Yes Poetry. He blogs at mirrorsponge and is trying to publish his novels.