I knew the smell of it in all its colours
stainless steel when freshly drawn
rusty brown vinegar of Merlot when old
I approached it as the crime scene it presented
Despite my efforts it splattered the toilet bowl
sprayed the toilet seat like a paint gun
stray jelly blobs were on my bathroom floor tiles
Even in the sink where I had washed most of it out
it was a rosé
the pink of blushes
of brushes rinsed of red watercolour
It clung to grooves between nails and finger pads
stained the grains in my palms and fingerprints
‘Out damned spot’
I had not committed a violent murder
it was just another full stop. Period.
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