John Anderson Poet Free verse

Notes About The Poem

'At the hardware store, the paint specialist was on vacation. How hard could it be? I riffled the sample cards of Benjamin Moore’s 152-shades of White Collection, which accounts for a slight majority of the company’s 50 best-selling colors. Too many options? “Yes, I could see that offering 152 whites sounds excessive,” allows Andrea Magno, the company’s director of color marketing and design. (Home Depot carries 160 different shades of white interior paint.) But, she explains, it’s not overkill when you’re hunting for that specific, special something.'

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Listen to poem:

One Fifty Two Shades of White

Choosing which shade of white,
drives most people up the wall.
There's at least 
152 shades of white 
to choose from.
Despite being well: "Just White" 
It's the subtle hue, blah blah, 
hubris and hoo-ha,
that comes to the fore.
White can be darker, lighter, 
cooler or warmer, 
extra bright or dim,
so so cool, boring or subdued.
"Wind's Breath", "Extra White"
"Moonlight White at Night".
How can you choose?
It's the paints position, lighting, shade
and context that makes
the decision so complex.
Any color tinge, even within plain stark white
Can evoke a profound emotional reaction.
“Pristine” whites feel frigid cold, like ice.
Tiny tints of yellow, orange and red
feel "happy", “warm” or “sunny.”
Subtle slurps of green or blue
feel "natural" and "homely".
But, beware my friend,
Never ever choose:
"Off White" or
"Shades of Gray"
Heaven Forbid!

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