Afraid of Colour - Dec 20 2023

Afraid of Colour

Dec 20 2023

She liked colour.

Hardly a surprise

since nothing about her

was wishy-washy, pastel

off-white;

no, she was all about

bold

incandescent

bright.

Didn't matter if the colours clashed

or she painted outside the lines.

Didn't matter

if the drips and splatters

were left to dry

where they fell.

And while fine

with satin, eggshell, flat

she preferred high gloss;

which, like her

catches the eye

and shows all its flaws.

Yes, a ramshackle house

but it suited her.

The imperfection.

The busy colours

that were just as restless.

The uneven floors

and doors that stick,

the chilly draft

wonky windows let in.

And since she mixed and matched

the half-used cans

the place looked as unique

as I remember her.

While as for me, I'm afraid of colour.

All my rooms

are the same flat beige.

The furniture matches

and the walls are straight,

the decor spare

and nothing's out of place.

So when she breezed in

like a blast of mountain air

wanting to splash paint everywhere

I demurred.

No wonder she rarely returned.

Or that, while she lived fast

it wasn’t for long.

The house, too, is gone.

So I'm thinking of painting a room

to honour her.

Cobalt blue and fire red

with royal purple trim.

A neon green door

that never gets closed;

so the colour pops

and her light shines,

inviting in

all who happen by.