there’s something 
I could write about
by spending the day
painting an old farmhouse
that overlooks a pond
with spiny softshell turtles
who swim away unafraid
while peacocks call out
in that exotic noise
from across a deep river

maybe there’s something
on how the sky looked
with white and dark clouds
in the shifting light
a place where some 
future person will sit
where I spent hours
making sure 
to follow the grain
ensuring that the banister
looks aesthetically pleasing
to someone 
that won’t 
give it a second glance

but this tank is empty
and there’s more painting
to be done