Yellow Underneath

And the paint is yellow

on the walls, even

where it peals away

it is yellow underneath

except the living room

that is lime sherbet green,

And there are no bugs

in the house or garden

the pest control man sprays

everything with poison

to keep us safe,

And everything

is brilliant green

and closely mown,

And the neighbors’ kids

play the music too loud

at the pool party,

But we crank up

the window unit

and barely hear a thing,

But the sound

of ten thousand locusts

in my ears even

on the quietest night

And the paint is yellow.