Beans

by Aidan Aboud

There is,

And ever will be:

A red painting

Such that stark contrast

Highlights —

Your pupils dilate

You focus

They already did

It's too late.

Hiccuping in the dark,

The sun has gone out

We consumed — far too

Fast.

I blink.

But it's not enough.

My eyes

Bleary,

Tearing

But I can’t cry —

It’s never worth it.

The painting seems to laugh

Spreading its liquid tendrils

Amassing

Like birds before a storm

Flocking in claustrophobic

Conflict.

We seek each other,

A form of thought

Paradoxical.

If only I find

“My”

Kind. 

We’ll be safe then

We’ll be happy.

But who is it

That relies on another

For peace —

The pained

The dead.

The painting

Is of itself

As nothing ever was.

The painting

An omniscient red

……

…

“Hmmph”

…

Blood will have blood,

He laughs.

Blood will have blood

They said.