This piece was one of my first postings on AD but it too, as many of my pieces, has been revised. It was a recent conversation with a friend that made me want to repost this. I was reminded that it is not what we see that matters...
Colors
She was a mere slip of a girl. Pixie-like with brown pigtails bouncing. Chestnut eyes captured her world in blurred glory. Always one glance behind or a few in the wrong direction. Eyes playing a game of catch-up. Never winning. The world moved faster than she could...than her eyes could. She didn't care.. not really.
Childhood's innocence Touches, captures the soft plea Of Imperfection
But they cared! And they drew lines! Lines she could not follow. Supposed friends laughed. Hands stilled. Crayons silenced. Color dulled. Teardrops fell outside those lines. Little Miss Pigtails tried…she tried so hard, but some still laughed! Mama never cared about things like this. She knew how hard she tried! Others snickered at her failures! Those lines…she could not color within them. She could not see them!
Revelation's sting Crushed, tear-stained dreams amid truth Of discovery
Years pass. Crayons melt and laughter fades. Little Miss Pigtails is now grown up. But she remembers. Tears, dried, and lessons, learned. She colors still but with the ink of words dipped from the well of poetry. Staying within the lines no longer matters. It never really did! It was always about the colors... and Mama knew that. Finally she knows it too!
As laughter faded Colors of love penetrate Sightless perception
July 2006
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Reviews of "Colors (haibun)"
Reviewed by Butch Howard (Reader)
Reviewed on November 15, 2007
Dear Myrna, those who place so much importance on "staying within the lines" are the ones who end up as insignificant faces in the crowd. The ones who reach beyond the lines, whether by mistake or on purpose, are the ones who stand apart from the ordinary -the ones who distinguish themselves by revealing their own inner beauty in unique ways. As you remind us, there is more than one way to see things and "it is not what we see that matters." What is the color of love? This is a beautifully constructed haibun and I'm glad I stopped by here today.
~Butch Howard
A touching write my friend, my sister is color blind, also with a vision impairment, but it never stopped her from living her dreams. She is a wife, mother, and a very strong individual who also makes the most beautiful handmade quilts you've ever seen! The fact that she is totally color blind and follows no particular color theme and is legally blind makes them even more special. Enjoyed this much!
Blessings,
Joyce B.
Myrna, I am one of those diagnosed as being color-blind...but it never bothered me...and I too, never stayed within the lines...this is an absolutely wonderful write.
How real this story in poetry format is. The artistic types always seem to be one step out of snych with others and suffer because of that until they are "discovered" then they become celebrities and no one complains.
My book of poetry is being redone by me, I have a beautiful cover designed and the book will have a few more than 200 poems in it. I am going to have it printed on demand here in Canada. When it is done I will let you know when it is done and if anyo
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~Butch Howard
Blessings,
Joyce B.
Cheers,
Dan
Be safe,
Karen
Regis
stan
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
Fee