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The Peculiar New Room (Nick Perere - Baton Rouge, LA)



A peculiar fourth room has appeared in my three bedroom abode.

High ceilings

Higher than any ceiling in the house

Perfectly pristine whitewashed gallery walls

The largest window one can imagine

Stretching from floor to ceiling 

Wide as an ocean’s horizon 

Revealing the lushest greenery and the bluest skies. 

I am meant to show masterpieces here.

 

But in one of the corners 

of the perfectly pristine whitewashed gallery walls 

is an ugly patch of dirt.

Dirt darker than charred coal. 

And the dirt is crawling

And multiplying. 

With their spindly legs and dangly antennae 

Vermin covered in filth and willingly ready to spread their germs

Scuffing the perfectly pristine whitewashed gallery walls.

 

But I have to move on, 

I have a gallery to exhibit.

Smile and act as if nothing is wrong.

Come.  

Enjoy the show.  

Enjoy the artwork hanging 

Upon the perfectly pristine whitewashed gallery walls.


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