the lonely

when the house
was completely painted
and finished,
the canvas cloths put away.
the brushes cleaned,
the cans tossed,
or marked
to which room each belonged,
when she put the check
in your hand,
and said thank you,
it was then that she looked
around the room
and said aloud,
I think the color needs
to be just a little
lighter, don't you?
when can you return
and do it once more?
to which you replied,
in the spring. let's do it
again
in the spring.