the love paper

the wallpaper comes
off in easy dry strips, just a little
prying of
the wide blade
lifts the dusty
ancient paper
from the walls, beneath it
someone has put the date
and the name
of who installed it.
1932, it reads. Bill and Emily
Harrison.
there's a heart with an
arrow drawn through it.
I keep going, taking the paper
down, then sand the walls,
preparing them to prime
and paint.
I leave the names and the heart
for as long
as I can, until I have
no choice
but to cover them up.
I wish them well, wherever
they are, if they are still
alive, most likely not,
and wonder did the love
work, did the romance
hold up as well as this
ancient wallpaper. we could
all do so well in
keeping things together.