I was sitting on the couch with two bars at best My router in the attic looking less than impressed When a network appeared like a gift from above "NETGEAR-5G-Henderson" — unprotected, full of love Full signal No password Just sitting there Like a door left open on a summer night I clicked it — accidentally, the first time My phone just connected, it wasn't a crime It's not stealing if it reaches your property line At least that's what I tell myself, and I sleep fine (I don't sleep fine) The speed is incredible — they must have fiber They're streaming in 4K and I'm a free rider My router gives me twelve down on a generous day The Hendersons' Wi-Fi is a hundred either way The Wi-Fi that reaches my house The signal that crept in like a digital mouse I didn't go looking for it, it came to me Like a stray cat of connectivity The Wi-Fi that reaches my house It's not mine, but it feels like ours A shared resource I never asked for But I'm streaming three shows and I can't go back to before I've thought about telling them — I've rehearsed the speech "Hey, your Wi-Fi's unsecured and within my reach You should really add a password for your own protection" But then I'd lose my signal, so I've tabled the suggestion I bought them a fruit basket (Guilt) I shoveled their driveway twice (More guilt) I wave extra hard now when they drive by Like a man compensating for his digital crimes The Wi-Fi that reaches my house The beautiful, unearned, invisible spouse Of my evening routine — I can't live without The Wi-Fi that reaches my house It's faster than mine by a shameful amount I've cancelled my own plan — that's how deep I'm in The Wi-Fi that reaches my house Is the best thing the Hendersons don't know they've given Sometimes late at night When the signal's strongest And the whole house is asleep I sit in the kitchen with my phone Streaming something I don't even want to watch Just because I can Just because it loads in half a second And I think — Is this what it feels like to have nice things? Is this what fiber optic feels like? Is this what the Hendersons feel every day? No wonder they're always smiling The Wi-Fi that reaches my house I know someday they'll add a password and it's done And I'll go back to my twelve megabits in the dark Like a man who once lived near the sun The Wi-Fi that reaches my house Was never mine to keep or count But for these few months of borrowed signal I've been the richest man on the block, no doubt The Wi-Fi that reaches my house They added a password last Tuesday "Henderson2024!" They told me at the block party They told EVERYONE the password I don't think they know what "secure" means But I'm not going to explain it (The signal's even better now — they upgraded to mesh)
