Teasels
Photo by Amy LV
Corn Stalks and Queen Anne's Lace
Photo by Amy LV
Students - The idea for this poem has been in my mind for a long time, for many years ago, my husband did tell me that he loved the color brown. From that day on, I saw brown differently. Whereas before I never would have considered brown beautiful, now I too, love its many shades. Often I think about brown, notice brown, am grateful for brown. Friends (and husbands) who help you grow are gifts indeed.
Today's poem was inspired by a color and by a conversation. On my drive to Syracuse, NY yesterday, looking at all of the roadside browns, pausing to take pictures,I was reminded of this old conversation about brown. Finally, I've captured something that has been rolling around in my mind for years.
Did you notice that "I saw" is a very short line, two words on a line all alone? That was a revision. When I first wrote this verse, it did not have a title. Rereading to find a title, I considered "Brown" and considered "Once" but I wanted the title to convey more meaning than that. I wanted the title to show that I was changed, that at last, "I Saw." Once I changed the title, the line needed to be changed as well, to reflect the importance of seeing and understanding. Those two words deserved their own line, so I changed the line break from:
I saw one hundred wondrous browns
to
I saw
one hundred wondrous browns
When you begin to write today, you might think about questions and colors too.
What conversation has been rolling around in your mind?
What color is striking your eye these days?
Please share a comment below if you wish.
