I am rays of forsythia
to winter-weary yard
I am sunbeams of pansies, dafs and tulips.
I am basket of gold
spilling over rock wall
and bright dandelions decorating ditches.
I’m a riot of broom
along ocean cliffs in spring
and in summer a hedge of ochre tansy.
In the fall I am rippling field
of champagne-colored wheat
then as goldenrod I sway in grass of khaki.
I’m a squirt of tangy mustard
a bite of lemon pie
I am saffron and turmeric and curry.
I’m the orangy-golden egg yolk
the richest ivory cream
I am cheese and damson jam and tawny biscuits.
I’m the singing canary
the ribbon on the tree,
never shy, most tend to think of me as forward –
when I highlight your lines
mark your place with sticky notes –
so don’t ever, ever dare to call me coward!
© 2004 – Time of Singing, Summer 2004
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This is a re-post from September 2009. I am reviving it today in honor of the Tweetspeak challenge to write a catalogue poem focusing on color that goes hand-in-hand with the color photography challenge at the High Calling blog (Culture Tab). You can play too. Just read the instructions on both pages and submit your poem/photos as directed.
You’re also welcome to drop by my YELLOW GALLERY on Flickr!
Linked at One Shot Wednesday Week 50
I really liked “when I highlight your lines.” SInce it can be read more intimately than just the surface meaning.
ha. that is yellow…used to have a yellow Xterra until it got totalled…yellow is one of my favs….
I like how you vary the tone of this, so that just as it begins to become once more lyrical, you throw in a word such as “dafs” or “squirt”; some nice alliteration and internal rhyme as well. I also like “most tend to think of me as forward / when I highlight your lines”. A fun piece!
I love the colour yellow and hence enjoyed your poem a great deal, as you take the reader through all the different shades within its’ hue. A beautiful write from a beautiful mind!
Beautiful perspectives on the word “Yellow”. Thanks for sharing this very creative piece.
Nicely woven with yellow, from the truck to the chicken aspect, well done.
Very creative! Enjoyable read!!