There is no need for further rebellion

for the fight has already been won.

In today’s society,

the issues that used to be here no longer exist,

fresh paint on an apartment wall,

a clean slate of smooth, pure white.

But as we near the wall we might see

something we did not expect.

The painted walls are not smooth in texture,

there are specks in the paint, revealing that

the wall was dirty before being covered.

None of the crusted hardware removed

prior to the job. Instead, an uneven layer

of grimy, white liquid brushed over the rust and left to dry,

rendering the corroding fixtures nearly impossible to remove.

An initial breath of air may sting of chemicals,

but soon enough, it becomes a familiar smell to the tenant.

What will happen when the paint starts to peel?