Faded

Faded

Your house is silent and dark.
Has the sun bleached your colors
and faded them to nothingness?
Are they banished to darkness forever?

Just as the heat of the harsh sunlight
sears colors from clothes hung out to dry,
depression drains joy from our hearts,
and devours our strength to fight back.

Unlike clothes bleached by the sun,
your colors will return when you are stronger.
Depression scrambles your mind and
twists thoughts into mangled wanderings.

A rest in the shade and some cool water
will refresh you and bring back your colors.
Encouragement from friends will add moisture
to your pallette of new and vibrant water colors.

Please hurry back, my black and white friend.
Find your colors soon, and paint my world with joy.
I long to see your windows full of light again,
and hear the music of your poetry.

Pat Nelson
July 17, 2008