fresh coat

you make the house your own.
paint the bedroom. repaint
the bedroom. some kind of
green, named for a gemstone,
maybe. or something vaguely
oceanic. wash the dishes.

blast music too loud on a too
small speaker. sweep floors.
sing off-key into broom handle
microphone. frame photos from
long ago of people you love and
have loved. hang them crooked.

repaint the bedroom. yellow
this time. like sunflower yellow.
leave the attic a ghost town-
cardboard boxes filled with
ratty t-shirts that still smell
like maple syrup and tobacco.

like autumn weekends in
portland, brittle leaves dyed
a moodboard gradient. cook
dinner and wrap leftovers.
fall asleep to the sound of
rain on the noise machine

you bought for yourself last
christmas. consider this
the best money you ever spent.