Make Your Mark

Before the slog of the job, before
the careful dip of the roller in the tray,
the care to drag it without a drip,
the care to avoid leaving "painter's holidays," why not have fun?

Make big strokes crosswise.
Paint a tulip on the white wall
in the color that will soon cover all,
respectably.

And sign your name
somewhere hard to see,
where someone will find it
someday, know you were here.