there’s a gang, if that’s

the right collective noun for 

painters and decorators?

they’re all Polish boys, grafters, 

very noisy but polite to a man,

doing up Joe’s old place,

been there for three weeks,

seven days a week, like

busy little white chalk mice,

painting over Joe and Barb’s life

only stopping for an occasional 

can of Red Bull and a roll-up,

each day another familiar item

hits the skip, parked in the spot 

where her beloved geranium 

pots used to stand,

their once colourful life 

making way for a younger 

version of the same

© Graham R Sherwood 06/25