Loss by the Gallon – Marissa Glover

Loss by the Gallon

Painting the house is an act of forfeit.
Each brush stroke, a soft surrender.
Swish then wish, then swish, then
some new color to cover up the divorce.
But underneath it all, it’s still a wall—
always a wall. Don’t believe the home
improvement ads. Winsome Gray
in the bedroom won’t end the argument.
Balmoral Red doesn’t increase libido.
Ponder can’t save the marriage.
Each layer we add dries. Efforts fade,
then peel. Small flecks the color of attempt
fall to a tile floor already chipped, grout
spotted and smudged beyond cleaning.

Marissa Glover teaches and writes in the United States, where she is co-editor of Orange Blossom Review and a senior editor at The Lascaux Review. Her poetry is found in UK journals such as Amaryllis, Picaroon Poetry, Solstice Sounds, Ink, Sweat & Tears, Amethyst Review, Nine Muses, Fly on the Wall, Riggwelter, and Fresh Air Poetry. Follow her on Twitter @_MarissaGlover_.