Your final painting, eight days before your death,
           still life of cut watermelons signed on one
            wedge’s pulp, Viva la Vida. In pain
         from an amputated leg, you
wrote in your diary,
The exit is joyful,
and I hope
never
to
return.
Rinds deep
emerald, medium
green, chartreuse; whole
halved, quartered, cut: a faceted
ruby. One slice studded with seeds. Your
crimson marrow: sweet, plump, fragrant salve.