Dress Code

[rayheinrich]

.
"the way a neighbor
paints over the rust on a railing,"

BINGO! You got it.

I definitely like the poem now but (without "but"'s is without wondering),
don't you think it just cries out for 1st person? :

    ...

    so it was no surprise
    when the names followed me
    into the classroom, cluttered my desk
    and waited at my locker.

    ...