Here, in the Balkans
your neighbour is like a relative
and even more than that
depending on the occasion
You can borrow from him
a cup of oil, some sugar,
a potato, two onions
a bottle of rakija – if you have guests
the water system key, a screwdriver
chairs for the party, a table
and so on…
If a family member dies
he carries the casket
if a child is born
he’s the first to congratulate you
if you take a holiday,
he waters the flowers,
and he feeds the cat,
if you have one
Here, in the Balkans
where the neighbour is like one of your own
they say – it’s bad
maybe Canada is better