catalytic color burst
 
grey skies
grey buildings
a drab and depressing city
grey rain washing grey streets
colorless people
living colorless lives
dead but not dead
seen but not heard

into their midst bursts color
the color of exuberant youth
the color of innocent idealism
the color of my mohair sweater

heads turn
eyes drink in
mouths form curses
or smile indulgently

they loathe
the sound and sight of it
they despise
the smell, taste and feel of it
they regret
their own lost youth but
they hate
my mohair sweater

© Robert Ford 1999