THE COLOR OF

The color of olives
green-brown or black,
but I prefer black.

The color of watermelon,
green-yellow-streaked outside,
but I prefer the red juicy inside
even with the pits.

The color of snow,
white first snow,
wow – tasting cold flakes
on my tongue,
but after a long winter,
I prefer the grey piles of snow
melting towards spring.

The color of Lent
ashes, purple,
the grey black skin of fish,
but I prefer white lilies,
the alleluia trumpets
of Easter and Resurrection
and the Paschal Lamb.

© Andy Costello, Reflections 2011