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
Violet Nesdoly / poems 
L.L. Barkat
June 14, 2011 at 10:36 am
I really liked “when I highlight your lines.” SInce it can be read more intimately than just the surface meaning.
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brian
June 14, 2011 at 5:10 pm
ha. that is yellow…used to have a yellow Xterra until it got totalled…yellow is one of my favs….
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Maureen
June 14, 2011 at 5:55 pm
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!
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Elizabeth Young
June 14, 2011 at 11:13 pm
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!
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Nomar Knight
June 15, 2011 at 4:12 am
Beautiful perspectives on the word “Yellow”. Thanks for sharing this very creative piece.
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Pat Hatt
June 15, 2011 at 3:01 pm
Nicely woven with yellow, from the truck to the chicken aspect, well done.
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Anna
June 21, 2011 at 9:24 am
Very creative! Enjoyable read!!
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