This is a poem. I wrote it in ten minutes without revising. It is not an exercise in poetry or meant to "sound pretty" or be an award-winning literary work. It comes straight from my heart filtered only by the limits of language.

For my mom, who feels and loves deeply. I offer her my gift of words.

"Maddening Shades of Gray"

I am white,
clean and pure, unadulterated.
I am light.

I am yellow,
happy, bathed in rays.
I am flying high.

I am green,
New, fresh with naiveté.
I am untainted.

I am blue,
Sad, filled with longing.
I hold sadness in my hand.

I am violet,
The color of the sun after setting.
I am the color of loss.

I am red,
Rage and anger overflowing.
I am passion mixed with rage.

I am black,
A closed off tunnel.
I am devoured by hopelessness.

I am these colors all at once,
Longing to get away.
I am a maddening shade of gray.

KMP 02.23.2002

This poem and Web site is copyright Sullivan Lane 2002.