By the time the painting comes
I had put on layaway
The painting I had so much fun saving for
selling for
hawking for
releasing for
by the time the painting comes
the painting of the tree looking from the roots up
that I was so sad when I thought it had burned in the fire
with all the other paintings my friend had done
(but it, being elsewhere, had been spared)
when the painting comes
and it’s coming sooner than I ever thought it would
when the painting comes
I don’t know if I will have a space to hang it
anymore
because my house is now so deliciously
empty and free
