Full Spectrum

This red feels hot, this out-of-control hue, as if too much would somehow leave me floating over a lava bed. Now that feels better, this majestic purple tint, somewhat cooler yet deceptively tepid. I would wander aimlessly if this was all I knew. But now, jumping inward to this feeling is a color I've known before when I was wet and new, eyes wide open, breathing in this blue. I'm getting down to green's life force now, and I don't want to leave this color any more than a succulent would, confident against the sun's brilliant rays. Hunger and confusion are upon me because green has blended into yellow leaving me on the edge of citrus, but not citrus enough-- only a nagging feeling of wanting bread. I'm curious all of a sudden, like too much light and not enough foothold. My thoughts are dimming, my vision is shallow, and mind orange and groggy. And there it goes again, this out-of-control red, a feeling of too hot, as if too much of this hue would leave me floating over a lava bed. Won Third Place in Nina Parmenter's It feels surreal Poetry Contest, December 2020