elmira white

I might shave
my beard off, jake tells me at work,
as he puts
another coat
of Elmira White onto
the walls.
someone told me that it makes
me look old.
there's too much grey in it.
but you are old I tell him,
so what's the difference,
he doesn't say anything
to this, he keeps
working the roller, dipping
the sleeve
into the tray,
rolling the white paint
onto the walls to make
everything fresh and new again.