I have nothing to say about colors
that leave me in the night when I need them most,
then sneak up on me when dawn cracks open
turning my dark blanket robin’s egg blue and down quilt
a true navy on emerald peacock printed sheets
as they were hours ago before I turned out the lights
to rest my head among birds swooping happily
under white clouds in defiance of gravity—
until they crash land in muddy puddles
smothered by grubby grays—layers and layers.
I begged sun to return—or moon—but
monotones prevailed and no hope painted fireflies in the gloom.
Now colors fling themselves about trying to make me smile,
but I won’t. I’m not going to play even if they
threaten to delight me with sparkling gems
and adorn the multi-hued skins of people,
homes and earth with opals, scented lavender
and huge red roses, even if they ride in on
candy-cane ice cream with chocolate sprinkles
and blueberry pancakes with golden maple syrup.
I have nothing to say about colors
which know I cannot resist their playfulness
and even now seduce a giggle out of me
though I try to be stern and standoffish. But
I can’t stay still while they stir into dance.
I won’t—I will—I can’t lean in the shadows
and wallflower when invited to twirl into voice
bright and bold as water no longer dammed. Pop!
I want to change my stance, get off the wall and prance.
Colors! Wait! Forgive me. Your rules. Let’s play.
The colors in life continue to entrance and tease us even when we sulk and still make us smile reluctantly as we always forgive them and smile, the join in their games. This is so much fun Susan for colors put a sparkle in our lives
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the colors you've painted with in the first stanza...sometimes neither the sun nor the moon listens to us and gloom prevails..."I’m not going to play even if they / threaten to delight me with sparkling gems / and adorn the multi-hued skins of people,"..happiness and sadness residing in colors nicely captivated here....
ReplyDeleteDelightful!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is so beautifully touching Susan! especially adore these lines:
ReplyDeleteI turned out the lights
to rest my head among birds swooping happily
under white clouds in defiance of gravity—
Beautifully penned.
Lots of love,
Sanaa
this was wonderfully played. a coloring book of nature yet bring in the sensorial of visual,the waft of smells and oh, the taste of...candy-cane, chocolate sprinkles, blueberry pancakes and maple syrup. this tantalized my mornings awakening. guess what i'm having for breakfast? gracias this was well penned to Sumana's request
ReplyDeleteThis is a delightful poem, Susan! I like the way colors inspire playfulness that is hard to resist, even if one tries! I just love all of the examples you gave. But, as it is morning, I am inspired by those blueberry pancakes with golden maple syrup! Smiles.
ReplyDeleteYou have so much to say about colours! I think however we feel they try and seep in..make us feel a little better (i hope)..i love the internal dialogue and playfulness in this poem - sometimes we can only give ourselves a talking to in order to figure things out!
ReplyDeleteI relate to this all too well. I have tried to shut out the colors, at times, but they will have their way, leaving their footprints in sometimes strange places,decorating my life in ways I find astounding. Your response to the prompt is beautifully filled with joy.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
I LOVE the playfulness of this - the resistance, then the succumbing, to the dance. Made me smile........but I wont dance, dont make me. LOL.
ReplyDeleteI really like this poem, mainly because you say it has nothing to do with colors, but it does. This is a clever device, and I like how you repeat this line.
ReplyDeleteThis poem made me happy. A lovely, delightful poem.
ReplyDeleteThe repeated lines, the playfulness, the whimsicality of it....by saying what colors are not, you beautifully described what they are.
ReplyDelete"Now colors fling themselves about trying to make me smile,
ReplyDeletebut I won’t. I’m not going to play even if they
threaten to delight me with sparkling gems
and adorn the multi-hued skins of people,"
i luv this bit most of all and i knew you would stay serious to the end
(smiles)
much love...
Gorgeously kaleidoscopic - the array of colors and emotions that shift and transform throughout this piece is stunning, Susan.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love this poem Susan. I hope none of us can resist the dance of colors in spite of our stubborn defiance. I hopw we all find happy colors to dance with. Thank you so much for this poem. I find it so inspirational at a time when my spirits are not the highest.
ReplyDeletethese lines made your poem very awesome for me:
ReplyDeleteI have nothing to say about colors
which know I cannot resist their playfulness
and even now seduce a giggle out of me
though I try to be stern and standoffish. But
I can’t stay still while they stir into dance.
It's nice to read that you have fun with the colors all around you. We are the same Mary. Love ya!
oops! sorry Susan, for calling you another name. great job Susan! You are a mistress of poetry!
ReplyDelete"I have nothing to say about colors
ReplyDeletethat leave me in the night when I need them most,"- I find these first two lines extremely intriguing! Really, colours do leave us at night...I loved the way you have depicted this. Wonderful!
Colors! Wait! Forgive me.
ReplyDeleteYour rules. Let’s play
Color endowed with all the advantages of different hues. One would have to adjust oneself to be extended the privilege of play. Brilliant take Susan, great word-play!
Hank
This is cute, playful, and insightful, too. Colors are your playmates.
ReplyDeleteThis is really gorgeous, Susan!
ReplyDeleteAh, it was wonderful child-like play/dance with colors and clouds....lovely image 'dawn cracks open',
ReplyDeletenice to read when grey day hovering above....see, your words - inspiring...
A lovely rainbow of emotions through color!
ReplyDeleteWord play at its best Susan. It's like a child trying to be serious and failing. We should never stop playing with color!!!
ReplyDeletesorry I am so late in commenting on last week's posts :(
The poem is like opening up a box of watercolours and dipping the brush in this and that colour! Sampling all and mixing all. Interesting how colours change depending on the available light. The fauves had it right: A banana is yellow, and pink, and blue, and red, and green, and violet, and.... :-)
ReplyDelete