green.
that day
the leaves seemed more green
on that tree out front
we discussed what shade of green that might be
celadon? no, you said
too pale.
emerald!
that’s darker –
apple?
no
– more blue
jade?
maybe jade!
like your mother’s necklace –
the one from chinatown
on the silk cord
a rose carved out of smooth, cool stone.
is it still in the box with
her rings and your grandmother’s pearls
in the drawer at the end of the dresser?
we blinked at the sun through the branches.
so that’s what colour that is?
jade?
I don’t know, you said.
there are so damn many shades of green.
January 20th, 2007 at 2:06 am
it’s true, but it’s awfully nice also (about all the shades of green.) and you could say the same about blue, too. Lovely post.
January 22nd, 2007 at 9:25 am
I like how this compares leaves in sunlight outside to something remembered in a box inside. It also connects your mother to the sunlight in the tree via Chinatown and to your grandmother via pearls in the box.
I once overheard a painter say she doesn’t like painting landscapes becasue of all that green. That, I thought, is why God made violet and orange.