New On Old

They painted the wall a bright colour
but both knew that underneath was the mark
where the glass of red wine had been thrown
and whose shock waves had split their lives.

As if freshly fallen snow had accumulated
giving the air of softness and support whilst
underneath, the path was coated with lethally flat ice
a telepathic swipe of any passing traffic.

Their rings replated with dipped gold
day by day slipping off in delicate flakes
to reveal the worn out old metal
perhaps - it was so long ago - plastic.

New labour
New romantics
Neoliberalism
New normal

They stare at the wall and they know
better than what is there now
they know what used to be
because there is more truth
in the old than in the new.