within and without

you've painted a thousand
houses, at least.
inside and out.
most were pleased, but
some expected
the yellow to brighten
their mood,
the blue to raise
their spirits.
a red to throw color
into their mundane
lives. and when nothing
happened, sometimes
they took it out on you.
the slight crookedness
from the line of your brush,
as your hand moved,
the small splatter
at the edge of the room.
the curtain rehung
not quite right. still
unhappy, within
and now, without.