THE OLD NEIGHBOURHOOD

When houses have no fences

Everybody is welcome

Neighbors share food and many things

Borrow salt, matches and other things.

When houses have no fences

Everybody is welcome

To celebrate, console and anything

Freely conversing and gossiping.

There is sanctity of the abodes

Doors need not be locked and bolted

People don’t worry of thieves and trespassers

People would rather ask than pilfer.

When houses have high fences

The old neighborhood is gone

People stop coming and sharing 

Much more asking and bothering.

Doors are bolted and locked

People worry of thieves and trespassers

Neighbors guard their privacy 

And gossip somewhere else.