What connection does the speaker have to the neighbor at this moment? How does the speaker feel when the neighbor gives up on calling the cat?

This question is about At Dusk by Natasha Trethewey

The speaker feels emotionally connected to the neighbour.

The speaker also feels lonely, like the neighbour, when the neighbour gives up calling the cat.

Explanation:

At Dusk is a poem penned by Natasha Trethewey. The poem speaks about the choices that one can make independently of one's owners or parents. The independent choice is made by the cat in this poem.

The poem begins with the speaker's neighbour calling out someone that is the cat. After many calls from the owner, the cat decides to stay outside and play with fireflies instead of returning to its owner.

When the choice is made by the cat, the neighbour gives up calling it and withdraws inside the room. At this moment, the mind of the speaker is revealed.

The reader can know that the speaker start feeling connected to the neighbour and becomes reflective that what the neighbour must be doing inside now. The speaker starts pondering what the neighbour must be feeling at this moment after calling out for someone and not getting any response. The speaker begins to connect with the neighbour emotionally as the further lines suggests that the tone of the speaker is changed and she also begins to feel lonely.

The speaker also began feeling lonely after the neighbour stopped calling out the cat. The speaker start pondering and wondering if she too, have someone out there whom she can call and wait for them to come back home. The tone in these lines is melancholy. As the neighbour withdraws inside the room, the speaker feeling emotionally connected with the neighbour shares the experience of loneliness that one feels while waiting for someone to come back home.