BACKROOM

the backroom was empty when they first moved in,

but never since.

for at least five years it was full of shit,

overflown from the attic.

at some point in the last two, three years

a second-hand double bed moved in.

then a desk and some draws.

the backroom was bland, like a 1970’s living-room

made love to a prison cell:

birthed a little box with dirtied magnolia walls

and a salmon pink carpet.

the bedding was psychiatry blue

and the windowsill was a shelf.