the wallpaper

she has all day
to talk
as you position
the paper
onto the wall
brushing it
slowly into
place. setting
the level on
the edge.
she sips her
coffee and nibbles
at  pastry.
her mind
wanders as
she watches
you work.
the husband,
the children
the dog. all things
in the distant
past are
on the table
are in the photos
on the mantle.
her long hands
blue veined
and slender
tremble at the future.
but she likes
the paper. the paper
she says, with it's
roses and trees
and fields
is wonderful.