ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

The Right Colour

Stephen Whiteside 14.12.2012

So then I said, "Well, try the blue instead."
He gave a little smile and shook his head.
"It isn't worth the risk. Besides, I know
If nothing happened when I tried the red
The blue won't work, and I don't want to blow
The joint sky high, and make a mighty show."

I didn't say a word. Just thought a bit,
And in my mind a little fuse was lit.
I pondered on the yellow and the pink.
Somebody would need to show some grit.
I moved away. I needed space to think.
I felt that I was groping at the brink

Of something critical, a vital key,
And nobody could turn the lock, save me.
Save me! Who wants a burden such as that?
And yet my heart beat quite excitedly.
Back and forth, I paced my thinking mat,
Yet still could not quite find where it was at.

I heard him shut the door as sun went down.
To him I was a nut, a fool, a clown.
I more than half suspected he was right.
I thought of orange, purple, green and brown.
Walking stopped my mind from winding tight.
I knew I faced a long frustrating night.

The hours flew. I don't know where they went,
But I am of a somewhat manic bent,
And when a thorny problem grips my brain,
I focus like a bloodhound on the scent.
Thunder, lightning, howling wind and rain
Are nothing when my thoughts are in full train.

The colours of the sunrise gave the clue.
I staggered as I glimpsed their gorgeous hue.
They slowly spread to fill the heaven's dome.
Instinctively, I knew that it was true.
Relieved, at last, of any need to roam,
I slumped. How sweet, at last, to be at home!

G'day Stephen

I have been rather absent of late. What with the Gym and Ukulele diversions and keeping up with my responsibilities at home and IBP.... I am amazed at the number of poems you have been posting. I think I have said before buy you should really make an index of your work. Even if you start from tomorrow and only catch up on some past ones if and when you have time. It's really handy.

Now, -"Shades of Spike Milligan, Batman, he is channelling through our Stephen."
I can't believe that no one else has commented. I love the layout of this poem and the hint of something we should know -but don't-. I'm off to read it again. keep them coming and if your muse was someone else please explain.

Hi, Stephen. Love the poem!

I like the way that, by choosing a nonsense text, the subtext becomes the text.

I think this is a poem about courage, and faith. Am I right?

Hi there, Stephen. Great to hear from you. Always fun to track down a kindred spirit in cyberspace.

I don't normally like to discuss the meanings of my poems, but I think you're pretty much on the money.

Good luck with your writing!

Thanks, Stephen.

I'm not really a writer - more of a critic.

Fair enough. Good luck with your career in criticism, then.

Thanks, Stephen.

Thank you to you, too, Zondrae.

Stephen, I think you've fallen off your horse and are pondering the colour of the bruise on your forehead. Don't worry, go see the doctor and he'll give you something nasty to take.

Sometimes it takes a good fall to turn the lights on, Marion!