dVerse — Poetics — Winter Rainbow

GEDSC DIGITAL CAMERA

Winter Rainbow

What do you call the color of sunlight on snow?
A whiter white with flecks of sparkling prisms?
Bright silver with contrasting greys of depth?
Where corkscrewed plow has churned, it
looks like chopped gunmetal-colored cement.

Fast-moving rust jerks, robotic in her search
for milquetoast bits of kernels in mostly empty
sunflower shells. Reds hit and run above her
in hypnotizing rhythm. Tuxedo-ed chickadees
compete with turquoise-blue jays as alternates.

Networked shadows supervise from above,
complicating but never occluding sky’s hue.
My pasty face sits with theirs, striped and masked,
looking through milky, water-stained windows,
dreaming yet again of yellow, orange, and green.

 

 

Mish is today’s host of dVerse’ Poetics.  Mish says:
Write a poem from the perspective of a color and post it to your blog.

 

56 Comments Add yours

  1. I do love the thought of such a kaleidoscope of colors in the snow… yes so bright and lovely

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Bjorn :)

      Like

  2. kim881's avatar kim881 says:

    I agree with Bjorn – it’s a colourful kaleidoscope, this poem of yours, Lisa! I love the way it begins with questions that got me thinking about sunlight on snow, only to shake me up with fast-moving rust and tuxedo-ed chickadees and turquoise-blue jays.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks, Kim. I didn’t know where it was going until it went there. What isn’t out there gets colored in with my mind until the real stuff comes. It doesn’t feel like winter will be over in just a couple of weeks…

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Irene's avatar Irene says:

    What an awesome post, and song, too!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks, Irene! I love that whole album, Born 2B Blue.

      Like

  4. Mish's avatar Mish says:

    Oh how you put color and beauty into the blah of winter. Three stanzas, each with their own unique imagery. I like the way you delved deeper into the hues.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Mish!

      Like

  5. Unknown's avatar Anonymous says:

    This is a beauty!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, “Someone” :)

      Like

  6. Dora's avatar Dora says:

    A spectrum of birds for a rainbow – what a palate!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Yes there is a rainbow of birds and squirrels that visit, adding splashes of color against the snow. Thank you, Dora :)

      Like

  7. Ron.'s avatar Ron. says:

    Multi-hued light show! Dazzling write, Lisa! Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. sanaarizvi's avatar sanaarizvi says:

    This is breathtakingly beautiful! I love; “Fast-moving rust jerks, robotic in her search for milquetoast bits of kernels in mostly empty sunflower shells.”💝💝

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      I tried to say everything about the squirrel except squirrel ;)

      Like

  9. Xan's avatar Xan says:

    Minds of the great–we went to the same place.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      aha! Time for me to read yours :)

      Like

  10. Glenn A. Buttkus's avatar Glenn A. Buttkus says:

    Wow, only a poet could languish such beauty ice, slush and mud. You were very successful in that endeavor. The birds and rodents were a nice touch. Lie you, I long for Spring and rebirth.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Glenn, your comments always bring joy to me, they are poems in and of themselves. Thank you.

      Like

  11. calmkate's avatar calmkate says:

    you write of a winter I don’t know but love the way you wove so many colours in there!

    Soothing song, take care precious

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Kate. I liked your Zeal for Teal also :)

      Liked by 1 person

  12. rothpoetry's avatar rothpoetry says:

    Great images Lisa! Your dirty snow reminded me of a mime’s face with black streaks running! Love your poem.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks much, Dwight :)

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Sadje's avatar Sadje says:

    Rainbow of words and hues of white!

    Liked by 1 person

  14. I was just admiring the sun on the snow earlier today and your words have brought that beauty back. If only it was warmer with all of winter’s breathtaking beauty! ✨

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      It does make a beautiful — albeit frozen — canvas doesn’t it :)

      Liked by 1 person

  15. I wish I got to see snow more often to appreciate, as you have, its many moods, hues and beauties.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you for reading and your comment.

      Like

  16. Ingrid's avatar Ingrid says:

    These are difficult colours to paint and yet paint them you have, so skilfully! I love ‘chopped gunmetal-colored cement.’ That’s exactly how it looks!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      :) Thanks, Ingrid.

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Lisa, the whole poem was incredibly lovely, but I enjoyed it even more once I scrolled back up and looked at its title. Truly a rainbow.

    Yours,
    David

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, David. What colors I didn’t see out there I added. As I walked the poetry trail I see I was supposed to inhabit one color and speak from that place. Maybe I’ll give it a try for OLN tomorrow.

      Liked by 1 person

  18. Sabio Lantz's avatar Sabio Lantz says:

    Wow, a fun mix of lots of colors.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      It’s difficult for me to color within the lines sometimes, and even more difficult when given just one crayon. Sabio, so nice to see you. Where the heck have you been?

      Like

  19. memadtwo's avatar memadtwo says:

    Light’s reflections–a good place to spend time I think. (K)

    Liked by 1 person

  20. robtkistner's avatar robtkistner says:

    Loved this piece Lisa. I found it captivating.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. what a lovely evocative piece. I definitely could use a winter rainbow right now, relief from all these shades of blandness. :-)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks! I enjoyed your poem on Amber also, JP.

      Liked by 1 person

  22. The idea of a winter rainbow is so appealing. You have done it justice!

    Liked by 1 person

  23. We don’t get snow here. So thank you, Li, for showing snow in all its glorious colours through your excellent imagery. ❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you for your wonderful comment, Punam :)

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You are so welcome. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  24. judeitakali's avatar judeitakali says:

    Beautiful imagery. Snow and sunlight is mostly ever portrayed as magical, it’s good to read another side to it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Many thanks, Jude.

      Like

      1. judeitakali's avatar judeitakali says:

        My pleasure

        Liked by 1 person

  25. Jules's avatar Jules says:

    I am so looking forward to the yellows of spring. I’ve started growing a carrot and radish top near one of the windows just to see more than the different hues of birds when I look out my window 🌷🌺🌼

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      That’s a great idea, Jules. I have some “rooty” carrots in my veggie bin I could try it with.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Jules's avatar Jules says:

        Some folks use toothpicks to keep the top above water. I put in some glass stones (for holding floral arrangements) in the base of a small bowl – to keep the top up and have room for the roots to grow. They consume quite a bit of water so keep an eye on them. ;)

        Liked by 1 person

Leave a reply to Jules Cancel reply