Heavenly Blue

the clerk

at the paint store tells me that

he no longer

believes in God,

despite the chained

cross around

his neck,

he's done with organized,

or disorganized

religion.

he's from

Guatemala and was raised

Catholic,

but that ship

has sailed.

i look at the world, he says,

and see nothing

but hate

and greed,

fraud and deceit.

anger and wars.

death and disease.

i don't know what to tell him,

so i hand him

my order

for one gallon of

Heavenly Blue, eggshell

finish.

Benjamin Moore.