Oh Frank you were a horrid soul
Behind the blinds you hid
Your winter years you did devote
To frightening our kids
Lumb’ring round the apartment like
Some great barbaric ape
The wide girth of your belly peeking
Through bathrobe agape
The lawn was public prop’ty yet
You warned them not to play
So menacing your words and looks
Our own dreadful cliche
You claimed it did disturb your work
Although I am quite sure
You must have been retired now
100 years or more
And sometimes with a camera there
I saw you taking pics
Innocent young limbs all stolen
By your subtle clicks
So who knows what was really studied
When on the computer
Your thinking as kids ran for fear
From your motorized scooter
But theories and assumptions quickly
Replaced by amazement
When yesterday I saw your place is
Now blissfully vacant
Imagine how the children sang
So long they’d been denied
They cheered and danced as if the wicked
Witch herself had died
They excavated worms, cartwheeled
Rejoiced like it was Christmas
As I thought of your face if you
Were only there to witness
This little plot of land you did
Unwillingly bequeath
And what a fitting fate to find you
6 feet underneath.
Glorious Results Of A Misspent Youth 
Seems you never took to Frank then!
You have no idea the fights I used to have with this man. I once ended up throwing my daughter’s plastic ball at different parts of his car while it was parked in his driveway. Another time I called the cops on him because he was taking pictures of my daughter.
The taking pictures of a child when he is neither friend nor relative would I’m afraid cause me to have a serious word in his ear (at best)
I called the police and they couldn’t find any pictures in his house. They said he was just taking pictures of the tree out there. Still, seemed creepily suspicious when the kids were in the yard and there he was aiming at them with a camera.
A horsewhipping at the very least was due!
Blimey he sounds very dodgy indeed. I’m laughing at Mike’s verdict below –
“A horsewhipping at the very least was due!” – Harsh but fair eh? *laughs*.
Great poem by the way, pleased to have found you on Jessie’s world.
– sonmi upon the Cloud
Yes, same here. Dodgy would be a terrific way to describe him!
Perfection!
Thank you!
:), you’ve done it again! Totally fun!
Ha! Wasn’t always so much fun dealing with this guy but thank you!
Frankly, he sounds dreadful and alarming. But the ironic ending you’re famous for is absolutely charming!
Although our relationship was somewhat confrontational
I often found our arguing no less than inspirational
My words and verses sought an outlet but all that was pending
Until he moved out and, well then I found my ending!!
6 feet under and still a creep… enjoyed this one, Marissa!
Right, here lies Frank. He was a creep. Thanks Syl!
You’re welcome! That would make a fitting tombstone.
I would think.
Glad it was just the belly peeking out!
Oh, you know it. Man, that guy gave me the creeps. In happier times I was speaking to him and he asked me to kiss him!! Ugh, cringe!
Noooo, he didn’t! Sheesh! Avoid at all costs!!!!
Sounds like a real winner, that Frank! 😦 Never thought I’d feel this way, but I’m viewing this one as a happy ending!
Oh for sure! You should see my daughter dance on his lawn. I wonder who will move in next though!!
OMG. I had no idea this was real! Coming back over to answer your comment and now I see from everyone else’s replies that this was an actual person! Marissa, that is too scary about the pix of your kids! Good riddance!
Oh yes, some of my poems are based on reality and, unfortunately, this is one.
😦
It seems that most neighbourhoods have one of *those*. I know we did when we were kids.
Frank sounds he was a real winner in the Creep-of-the-Year award.
Right, a dreadful cliche! And so weird because first he was saying ‘I love children. Please play on my lawn.” Then he would come out and say the banister was sharp and he didn’t want the kids getting hurt (yeah, right). Next thing we knew it was all out war. He would just look out his window constantly, no matter what we did.
soooo – no love lost? 😉
I should think not.
Scary, not nice but great poem.
Right, at least something good came out of it.
I think that we all have a Frank, who lives by. I think that some people live to make others miserable.
I know. It’s a very relatable topic. This guy took it way far but anyway, the joy we felt to see his apartment empty…it was inspirational!! Ha, ha!
yeah, dead people are as obnoxious as live ones! glad you pointed it out…
I’m especially happy to see him go.
Good for you!
What a beautifully macabre little ditty you have written! Oh yes, we have all known a Frank or two… well done, marisa!
Thank you Doreen! Indeed we have!
Get off my lasn. I like him.
There are many times I have thought about telling the damn kids to get off my lawn but he went a bit over the top.
This reminds me of a neighbor whose house I had to pass on the way to school. We weren’t real neighbors, his house was at the far end of the block, so the only time we ever saw him was on our way to school or home. He’d stand in his window at least once a week and let his bathrobe hang open. I don’t remember really seeing him naked but a part of my brain tells me I must have because I shudder whenever I think about that time of my life. Like now.
Oh goodness. It really is kind of abusive. Thankfully this guy always seemed to have some sort of pants on, but still with the camera and the open robe…oh gosh, no thank you!
Oooh, what a creepy man, may he head the other direction in his after life. No one be allowed to take photos of children, without permission. Maybe need the police to have come and put him in jail, that fat belly hanging out of robe, what a “Pervert!” 😦
I know, really. So glad to see that apartment empty!
Yeah! It is like the Wizard of Oz song, only words changed to fit the yucky neighbor: “Ding Dong, glad to see Frank is gone!!” 🙂
(To the tune of, “Ding Dong the witch is dead!”)
Yes, it was a bit like that for us!
This sounds almost like an episode of ID TV….what a weirdo creep! Good to know he’s gone, here’s to having better neighbors the next time around.
Yes, let’s hope.
Frank sounds one cup short of a tea set. Could you get a restraining order on him? Anyway, alls well that ends well. I wonder if he had family.
I did call the cops on him once and they told me that all he had on his camera were pictures of the tree in the front yard so I really don’t know what to think. He certainly seemed like a pervert to me.
Here in America, we say, one beer short of a six pack. You English are so funny!
Frank, immortalised in words. Nothing like a good poem as an expose….!
I’m sure they’ll quote it in the eulogy.
Let’s hope so.
The wide girth of your belly peeking
Through bathrobe agape!
Frank sounds like the robber from Dennis the Menace. Scary as all hell. Who actually was this fellow?
That is a good question. He told me he wrote books but I’m happy not to welcome him into our club, heh, heh! Really, I’m just glad he’s gone.
That is a good question.. ahaha
We should all be cautious of people who ‘write books’, actually people who write in general, even.
A scary lot.
How wonderful to be back here today, Marissa. Here is another outstanding representation of your genius. Poor Frank. I kind of remember some people like that when I was kid and they truly did scare me. Hope you are having a great Sunday!!! (((HUGS))) Amy ❤
Your heart once again amazes me. You are the only one who evoked any sort of sympathy for this character but I guess he could have been sad and misunderstood, not to mention that he was really, really old and probably in failing health. Always great to see you here on my page. Hope you are doing well.
Old age sometimes really sours people. Life can be truly tough! Yes I am doing well, Marissa, with Life at last settling down!!! ❤
Now the fear I would have…..WHO is going to move in? I hope it’s not someone who makes you wish for Frank!!!!! 😉
I know what you mean! Doubt they could be worse. At least he was quiet!!
Well, there’s that then. But the other stuff would have made me too uncomfortable to appreciate his silence.
I know what you mean.
LOL! Yikes! I’m glad I didn’t live near Frank!
You should be!
Haha!!!! So wonderful Marissa-like!!! Fantastic, Marissa!
Thank you Erika! Welcome back!
Thank you, very much, Marissa! 😊
Very creepy, Marissa!! I think I’d be terrified 🙂
nice poem!
My daughter was pretty scared of him. He was pretty old so I was sure he wouldn’t do anything to me!
Still, very scary!
Great imagery, very intense! Love the ending.
Thank you Mike!
My pleasure!
the title itself was enough, than reading the content in your blog was more amazing!
Thank you!