Trompe L'oiel


Trompe L'oeil
I use to be so sure of my colors
But now my vision is jaded
Perhaps it is obscured
from the THOUSANDS of tears I've shed

I taught you
the primary colors, RED, YELLOW, and BLUE
The shades of red are scarlet,
magenta, crimson, cerise, and claret
your favorite lipstick,
I will never forget
RED, the color of love 
of laughter,
and lust thereafter
an upturned smile, a glass of wine?
a touch of mine, or love divine.
Now RED envelops me,
with frustration and anger
splash of danger.
unspeakable disgust.

YELLOW, the scorching sun
pales in comparison
with your presence so indelible,
your mind impeccable.
YELLOW makes me think
of your frail lifeless body
as your last breath escaped.

BLUE is the hue
of countless summer skies, 
the bed where dreams are made of 
shining stars lie
the beach waves, the ocean tide
you were by my side
Now BLUE, the flame
runs through my veins
hottest temperature a fire could be
unceasing storm, inside of me.

GREEN the color of the grass,
illuminated by the morning dew
path of trees, 
just you and 
right or left?
Did it matter? we're together.
GREEN  eyes of the monster
committed theft
when he stole your bright todays
and hopeful tomorrows
 Is GREEN is the color of envy?
a side of you they paint,
your memory they taint.
To change the tint,
you put a little bit of that
and a little bit of black.

ORANGE the melting popsicle
cooled us in the heat
chubby cat, circles your feet
Now, molten lava
bursting in flames
warmed me with rage.

Can you paint intangible things, fractured views?
injustice, indifference?
What are their hues?
Is lack-luster a color?
What shades of blatant neglect?
unrequited love, of sheer regret?
The palette of the darkest hour,
Did it feel like forever?

Is taupe the backdrop?
For a system that's corrupt
Things staged,
relationships strained
Is ECRU, greener or paler?
than chamois or old ivory?
unbleached truth
distant memory.
Are rich colors purple, 
emerald or burgundy?
Not for you and me

BLACK scream sophistication
Now endless anticipation
black dress daunting
memory that is haunting
hole in the dark?
cry of a lark?

WHITE, an empty canvas
 lonely easel,  motionless brush
Hopefully the path you see
Wherever you are, there's me

I close my eyes and think of you
HUNDREDS of still photographs flash 
of sepia, pale blue
I pray you walk the road without shadows
a path made of rainbows
where birds sing you home 
you are not sad or alone.
As for me, I'll paint your memories
with MILLION shades of LOVE.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2024

Poem

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Rhymes Avatar
April 10, 2024 at 1:51 PM
I like this! Reminds me of my poem "The Refraction of Your Gaze".
Weiss Avatar
May 18, 2024 at 12:09 AM
Thank you. I read you poem The Refraction of Your Gaze. It inpsired me to write Kaleidoscope which I haven't posted yet, as it may "pale" in comparison. I am so glad you could relate to the color of emotions.
Scott Avatar
February 3, 2024 at 6:33 AM
Colours can indeed speak into our different moods and circumstances - you use them to their full power and intensity here. A poet connects all the senses. Nicely done :))
Weiss Avatar
May 18, 2024 at 12:10 AM
Thank you. I always look forward to reading your comments.
Agustin Avatar
January 29, 2024 at 7:21 PM
Thanks for sharing this... exposing your thoughts through your unique poetic style. Welcome to Poetry Soup. I welcome you with the love of the Lord, expressed by John 3:16 of the Bible, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Be blessed.
Anaya Avatar
January 27, 2024 at 11:38 AM
Rowe, you've used colors in magnificent ways no one could. I am delighted to read you for the first time. Welcome brilliant young writer! I Am Anaya
Weiss Avatar
May 18, 2024 at 12:11 AM
Thank you. I appreciate the kind words.
Edmonds  Avatar
January 27, 2024 at 1:21 AM
So sad, yet so beautiful, a loving tribute to a precious lost loved one. Welcome to PoetrySoup Rowe. Beryl
Ashley Avatar
January 26, 2024 at 5:22 PM
Dear Rowe, I adore how you have masterfully woven threads of raw emotion with colors to create a tapestry in shades of love and loss, beauty and grief, happiness and rage. Your vibrant imagery and metaphors are captivating, as are your bits of rhyme embedded in free verse.. love that! Every moment of this poem is rich, deep and heartbreaking. Your questioning is impactful expressive verse. Your "orange" stanza makes me think of a child.. sigh.. Your "white" stanza, especially, really struck my heart. Your last stanza a tear-stinging grand finale to a powerful, poignant piece. A fav! Welcome to PS. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
Ashley Avatar
January 26, 2024 at 5:51 PM
Dear Rowe, your poetic talent has the power to eclipse the sun. Thank you for sharing your grand artistic gift, I'm grateful to you for your inspiration and for your kindness. I'm the one pinching myself.. I'm humbled and honored by your thoughts, my friend. Thank you truly for reading my poems.
Weiss Avatar
January 26, 2024 at 5:30 PM
Oh my God! I'm pinching myself that The Susan Ashley commented on my poem! I am a fan! I have read almost all your poems. I love your writing style. I can only aspire to be half as good as you! Thank you so much for reading my piece. This is surreal and I am super stoked right now! Fan Girling at its finest!
Marine Avatar
January 26, 2024 at 4:24 AM
Aah, such a brilliant lesson on the language of colours, like brushstrokes of life's emotions that vibrate when placed in close proximity... "Can you paint intangible things, fractured views, injustice, indifferences? I love the" black and white" states of colours, and the in-between hues and tones that give value to human thoughts and feelings... A friend does copper work, another, glass blowing. To take glass, coming from humble origins, use blue, and orange heat, to create fragile beauty.
Weiss Avatar
January 26, 2024 at 6:19 AM
I believe this comment is so serendipitous. I met a renowned glass blower and I showed him this poem. He read it and encouraged me to post it. He even gave me one of his sculptures. It is a wave captured in glass art. I woke up in the middle of the night, signed up on this site and posted this. This morning I saw your comment and I was in disbelief with the mention of glass blowing. It definitely came full circle for me. Thank you, you have no idea how much this comment meant to me.
Marine Avatar
January 26, 2024 at 4:27 AM
Welcome, and Thank You for expanding my colour insight!
Lane Avatar
January 26, 2024 at 4:00 AM
You've written in-depth verses detailing emotional loss founded on colors. Your explanation of their value in the case of sorrow, gives the three-dimensional outlook of the mood. The trompe l'oiel effect of art. Very well written, Rowe.
Lane Avatar
January 26, 2024 at 11:57 AM
It's Lin, Rowe... just Lin. ;-)
Weiss Avatar
January 26, 2024 at 6:21 AM
Thank you Ms. Lane. I am new to this site. I have been writing for awhile but never summoned the courage to post anything. Your comment is very inspiring. Thank you, much appreciated.
Gondolf Avatar
January 26, 2024 at 2:50 AM
Life and love are a rainbow of colors and your verse takes the reader on a journey through the colors of life. I enjoyed this wonderfully written verse. Welcome to Poetry Soup, Rowe. John
Weiss Avatar
January 26, 2024 at 6:23 AM
I am glad you enjoyed it John. To capture the sentiments of the mourning parent who lost her daughter to murder was difficult to capture. She is still finding justice for her daughter's death, hopefully this poem can give justice to her life.
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