A N T H E M

xvi. i used to paint in color

i used to paint in color

before the world lost luster

to monochrome gray

and bright-hued desire faded

to dirty white

the white on old walls

like the ones closing in on me

with every step i take

(i run through a maze of white walls)

old dreams in shades of pastel

fall from the clouds

like angels barred from heaven

and wither like daisies plucked from the ground

and left to die

while blazing red ambition turns to dull ash

scattered by the wind

to who knows where.

now my blood has turned blue-black

over the passage of time

as my lungs crush themselves

and the hand of bad fortune

eclipses my sight

the world faded.

now i paint in black and white