With the silver sun
before sunset,
the world turns
an over-bright
black and white.
Bleached and dull,
my eyes ache with
pushy light;
an after-burn
of color-yearn.
Copyright 2017 Brenda Davis Harsham
Notes: I watched a great segment on race yesterday. Trevor Noah was interviewed by John Eligon, a New York Times correspondent. In the interview, Noah speaks about being a South African youth. He observed that, in America, being of color was beautiful. He wanted to be part of that. I want to be part of that, too. All colors are beautiful. When we see the rainbow of colors we all form, the world is a more complete and beautiful place where we all belong. When we see the world as comprised of black and white, us and them, then the world is narrow and frightening. Trevor Noah urged white people to start dialogues about race, not to leave all conversations to people of color. Here is a path toward celebrating color.
Happy Poetry Friday! Thanks to Leigh Anne Eck at A Day in the Life for hosting!
So true Brenda. Beautiful photo! 🙂
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Thank you!
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Wonderful poem and wonderful picture 💕
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Thank you.
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I adore your poetry, and today my eyes played a trick on me. I read colored yarn, at first, probably because I knit. Of course that was corrected. Then I read the part about what Trevor Noah said.
Then I thought about colored yarn, and how knitting inter-loops it all. …. perhaps …. me seeing yarn was not so far off. Always great to come here, have a good read and a greater think!
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We are all knitted together, with our thoughts. What a beautiful quilt we would make.
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This should have read. . .
Tenuous “bonds” that could tie or bind us together. Woven not blended. . .
Your poetry was amazing, Brenda!
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Thanks again, Robin.
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The photo was very beautiful but I could understand how the brightness may hurt our eyes and we may need to avert them, rest them for awhile.
My thoughts are in agreement with Trevor Noah.
Relations between people should try to include bridges and commonalities, but along side each other, being careful not to ruin or break ties, we also may concentrate on the beauty of differences. A rainbow is a lovely way of describing the diversity among us. 🌈
I think there are people who feel more comfortable stifling their words and efforts. Sadly, this builds walls and breaks the tenuous binds that could tie/bind us together, woven but not blended. More like a multi-colored blanket than blended into a homogeneous and bland result. Late night rambling but will try to check his message soon!
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Thanks for your comment, Robin. I’m glad you like my rainbow image. I don’t think I invented the idea of the rainbow applied to color, but I hope I used it in a different way.
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“Color-year” clever phrase, Brenda. That’s a great way to describe the anticipation I feel at the end of a season. Thank you, Brenda!
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sorry…”yearn”
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No worries, I understood. 🙂
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Thanks for visiting, Kiesha!
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Gorgeous photo and poem, Brenda, and I am glad you followed with the information about the interview with Noah and the call to action. We all can make the world a better place when we celebrate all the different ways we contribute.
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Thanks, Kay. One day at a time, I think we can.
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The response should be from all of us, and your call to action is beautiful, Brenda.
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We are ALL so much more when we CELEBRATE diversity.
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Yay! And I am so much more when I spend the morning reading poetry. Now, for some oatmeal.
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From poetry and photography to social justice…a post worth reading, Brenda. Thanks for an interesting perspective in darker shades. This is a different spin on autumn.
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Thanks, Carol. It has some winter overtones in it. I know I’ll be yearning for summer color soon. Yet, the deeper message is one that is evergreen.
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Gorgeous photo and thought provoking poem. Thanks for mentioning Trevor Noah’s interview and sharing your thoughts.
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Thanks, Jama. I need to spend more time writing and less time on current events, though. LOL
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Nicely done, Brenda. I’ll have to look for Noah’s interview. The photo you included is gorgeous too in its absence of colors.
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Thanks, Diane! It’s worth watching the interview.
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
INDEED..I DO TOO!
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Don’t we all? Have a great weekend.
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I like the unexpected word choices, Brenda! “After-burn of color-yearn” is very memorable.
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Thanks, Tabatha.
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What a thought-provoking post, Brenda. He is so right – the spectrum of colours is much less divisive than black and white.
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Thanks for reading, Kat.
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Lovely.
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TY!
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yes –
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Hugs.
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after burn, color yearn….wonderful words and feel.
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Thanks, Linda.
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color speaks volumes –
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Not as much as kindness, though. I think that is the great unifier.
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Well said, Brenda. Thank you.
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Thanks for agreeing, Cynthia!
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Excellent! 😎😎😎🥀🥀🥀
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Thanks for that pop of color.
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very beautiful!
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Thanks!
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The way the clouds look like they are about to roll in, Beautiful 🙂
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Thanks, Andy.
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