When I stayed at the Abbey 4 years ago for my weekend of silence, I wrote about many things; one of which was the story called “If I Could Live in a Color.” My hope was to publish it as a children’s book someday. The repetition and rhyme purposefully chosen for that reason. Simple poetry for children. But since has morphed into something a bit more.
The concept was inspired by my oldest daughter, who has a particular keen eye for color. One day years ago, when we were painting pottery together at the local village shop, she was meticulously and thoughtfully choosing her paint hues, as she often did. Nina is the essence of “take your time and wait until it is right.” God bless her.
Of course, she was debating between variations of turquoise…they all appeared the same to me, but alas, I knew better than to rush an artist. So patiently I waited with her, nodding my head in agreement when my advice was sought. The owner, an artist herself, concurred with Nina’s final choices, replying ,” Those are the perfect shades of turquoise.” I looked at the owner and said, “If she could live in a color, turquoise would be it.” I immediately turned to Nina and said, “That sounds like the title of a children’s book.”
And…that is when this story/poem was born.
If I Could Live in Color
If I could live in a color,
I would live in a cerulean sea
Wrap myself up
in a blanket of waves,
and drift in a sapphire glee.
If I could live in a color,
I would live in a turquoise ballet.
Twirl and swirl in a peacock tutu,
and glide through aqua broadway.
If I could live in a color,
I would live in a mango delight.
Float on a tangerine cloud
and stroll by the sherbet moonlight.
If I could live in a color,
I would live in a wintry white.
Sled on mountains of marshmallow hills,
and partake in a cottonball fight.
If I could live in a color,
I would live in a raspberry glaze.
Conduct a jelly jam symphony,
and applaud their concerto with praise.
If I could live in a color,
I would live in espresso latte.
Swim in a cocoa oasis,
and dive in hazelnut sorbet.
If I could live in a color,
I would live in an aubergine dream.
Read books in a hammock of plums
and relax by the mulberry stream.
If I could live in a color,
I would live in an ebony night.
Sleep near obsidian lakes
and dance in the onyx twilight.
If I could live in a color,
I would live in a golden sunglow.
Pluck gilded blossoms
of daffodil jewels
and shimmer in a honey ooze flow.
If I could live in color,
I would live in a mossy pine throne.
Hike summits of juniper peaks,
and climb boulders of emerald-like stone.
If I could live in a color,
I would live in tickle-me-pink.
Devour oodles of watermelon taffy
and skate on a bubblegum rink.
If I could live in a color,
I would live in a crimson sunrise,
Ablaze with a vermilion horizon
and burst into scarlet-filled skies.
So if you could live in a color,
What color would you dwell in and why?
Who lives in your color-filled world
with each day that flows passing by?
Though, no matter the color you choose,
the brilliance or vibrancy or shade,
Your color galore was made just for you,
because you
were perfectly made.
-by J.R. Bonfanti
Well there you have it. The world colored in tones, tints and shades. Birthed on a day of pottery painting with my bunny girl. Poetry. The freedom and beauty in the multitude of forms it can live and grow. It is where I began as a writer during my teenage years. A simple conversation between the flesh and spirit. Verses are.
Still getting my poetry on,
J
rundanceclimb 