The Show Is Not the Show,

The Show Is Not the Show, - meaning Summary

Appearance Versus Private Reality

This short poem contrasts outward spectacle with inward interest. The speaker argues that the public "show" matters less than the people who attend it; the neighbor becomes, for the speaker, a private menagerie—an object of curiosity or intimate attention. The final line, noting that both went to see, implies shared participation in observation and a leveling of roles between audience and subject. Tone is wry and observant.