Taking down the paintings

I remember the grey
day you all arrived
('going home')
to cheer my grieving heart..

You came with a canvas
blue and white impressions
of sky, wind
and sea, dark at the horizon,

And just a single curl
of wave

And now within a year
we're taking down the paintings,
packing up
our troubles with the shells

The colours of the sea
are waiting there
for me

(what colour is the sea today?)