the beauty of color

brown is the color of rich earth
dig your hands deep into it
let them memorize the feel
it is a dark color, like the night
when the sun's warmth is hidden
and no one sees any clearer than you

yellow is the sun,
its strong light lends its hue
to daffodils too
it is called a light color
because it reflects the light of the sun

fruit grows in the sunlight
taste this one, called an orange
and imagine the tangy color
my eyes call orange

feel this rose, the delicate texture of its petal
is the red of roses
the grass, feel the thin blades, is green
like this leaf or that one from the trees
that reach high into the air towards
the sky, where the sun burns warmly,
which we call blue
there are hundreds of blues because
the sky is so vast --
in the sky float clouds that are white,
the purest of colors,
because clouds contain life giving rain

and when it rains, the most spectacular event
may take place
a rainbow, with every color reflected
between the rain and the sun,
it goes from east to west
north to south
as far as your imagination can perceive

alas, the day must sleep too
and the night becomes black,
the most mysterious of colors
but there are tiny specks of white
which shimmer in the black of night
they are called stars --
some people say the stars
bring hope,
for many make wishes
on the first star seen at dusk

that is the magical moment
when light hues fade
becoming darkest of tints
and even as our eyes become useless
everything must be imagined,
like you, now, trying to grasp
the simple beauty of color





         the beauty of color
         30 may, 2006
         (Poetic Paradise Daily Challenge)