the lichen on the kitchen wall
just a hue of paint
smooth and flawless
eggshell finished

accents in tallow
licked at by the pale hound
we lashed to the downpipe
leaden with undertones of blue

spare us Nancy’s blushes
as she languishes in
borrowed light
on her hay-bed mingled
with Charlotte’s locks
parted lips incarnadine

the churlish green tree-shade
dances on the setting plaster
and their cinder rose skin

(image is screenshot from Farrow & Ball website)