It's Still Life

Sad Winter Skin

When I was young
I wanted a yellow bedroom

I wanted sunny

We boasted
of evergreen
and a climate wetter
than a bath

Dad painted

although he was mostly
a postman

and an artist

but he didn’t do bedrooms
So mum painted it

washable matte
dripped from the tin

Fresh Egg Yolk

I liked naming paint colours

It’s too bright
Mum said

so she toned it down
with white

I called it
Sad Winter Skin

in a sweep
of a brush

she had dimmed

my sun

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