ODE TO THE SECURITY OF THE FIFTH FLOOR

I THINK BACK WHEN I FIRST SAW MY APARTMENT ON THE FIFTH FLOOR

I RECALL FEELIINF RELIEVED, GOOD AND HAPPY FINALLY MOVING IN. THEN I HEARD THE OPENING OF A DOOR

RIGHT THEN I FIGURED I HAD MOVED INTO A GOOD, QUIET AND SAFE PLACE

OR ELESE I HAD MOVED ON THE WRONG SIDE WHERE NOTHING WOULD BE SACRED NOT EVEN IN MY SPACE

BUT AS THE YEARS PAST AND WE GREW INTO NEIGHBORS LEARNING TO RESPECT ONE ANOTHER

I LEARNED THAT WE ON THE FIFTH FLOOR HAD THE ONLY REAL SECURITY WHO WAS MY NEIGHBOR A BLACK BROTHER

AS LONG AS MY NEIGHBOR WAS HERE I NEVER HAD TO WORRY ABOUT STRANGERS HANGING AROUND ON MY FLOOR

AS LONG AS MY NEIGHBOR WAS HERE I NEVER WORRIED ABOUT UNWANTED GUESS KNOCKING ON MY DOOR

SINCE I’VE LEARNED THAT ALL GOOD THINGS OFTEN COME TO AN ABRUPT END

I REALIZE NOW THAT I WILL FOREVER REMEMBER AND I WILL MISS MY NEIGHBOR, MY SECURITY AND MY FRIEND

SO MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU ALWAYS AND FOREVER MORE

AND MAY HE BLESS YOU WITH THE JOB YOU DO SO WELL BEING SECURITY FOR HEAVENS FRONT DOOR…..

REST IN PEACE MICHEAL TOMBS

BY

WILLA D. JONES