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January 15, 2006

The naming of colors

July 28, 2007 06:57 AM EDT (Updated: June 14, 2008 07:53 AM EDT)

views: 97 | comments: 57

Blue, blue, a baby blue,
Is a boy dressed in sailor blues;
The word pops from the mouth, like blowing raspberries.

Blue, blue, is a baby boy
Whom we chuck under the chin
To make him laugh.

Pink, pink, like cotton candy,
Is a newborn baby girl,
Her soft skin, smooth against your cheek
Shy and hides behind her smile.

Red, red, a red poppy, red like hot dogs, flaming red on the grill.

Yellow, yellow, lemon yellow, the summer sun, high at noon over blue pool of cool water.

Bathers sport neon stripes to match neon tumblers, filled with neon drinks, lime Rickey, lemon ice, and tangerine Orangina.

Green, green grass, cool, wet to the touch; toes tingle in the dewy morn.

This is the day, rejoice.

Revised from previous postings.

Kathryn Esplin-Oleski, © 2007, 2008

Tags: poetically incorrect, summer, free verse, heat, colors

To Groups: CHAT & CONNECTIONS GARDEN CAFE - Faith, Carolyn & Magi serving smiles & Vegemite, Famous and Not So Famous Firsts, For the Love of Free Verse, Gather Writing Essential, Gather Girls Club, Poetically Incorrect, Synchronicity's Sweet Tea Cafe, The Renewed Activist, The Sixties, The Triple Name Club, Unofficial Gatherholics

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Comments: 57

Theresa W. Jul 28, 2007, 7:44am EDT

awsome!! I could see, smell, and touch the colors.

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HEIDI F. Jul 28, 2007, 7:48am EDT

great, the descriptions were great

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Pat M. Jul 28, 2007, 8:00am EDT

Beautifully put, Kathryn. A palette of primary colours.

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Carol Roach Jul 28, 2007, 8:09am EDT

this is really nice, I like it.

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Missy Cline Jul 28, 2007, 8:09am EDT

wonderful !!!!!!

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pamela r. Jul 28, 2007, 8:28am EDT

Cool-i like tasting and smelling them at the same time--very descriptive.

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Terry S. Jul 28, 2007, 8:33am EDT

Very nice. And you stopped before periwinkle.. ;)

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Kathryn E. Jul 28, 2007, 8:47am EDT

I had thought of this a few weeks ago before it was hot and I was in a department store and the bright new colors were out. Now that it is not, the colors are vibrant - the yellow sun, blue sky (if not overcast with humidity) and the green, green grass. And people's outfits and drinks to match...

stay cool in this heat.

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Kathryn E. Jul 28, 2007, 8:50am EDT

Terry, periwinkle is more of a fall color - not a vibrant, hot summer color...

I think I need some Grenadine and Sprite.

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Carla P. Jul 28, 2007, 8:50am EDT

Our world is so full of beautiful colors! How can we not see God's creations in all of the beautiful colors!

This really was nice! I could see, taste and feel the beautiful colors!

Thanks Kathryn!

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Kathryn E. Jul 28, 2007, 10:10am EDT

Audrey, you are in the pink!

Thanks Carla!

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Denise- Marie Jul 28, 2007, 11:04am EDT

Sweet...made me think of "Love is Blue" , that song from..the 60"s?

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Kathryn E. Jul 28, 2007, 11:08am EDT

oh yeah, I have not thought of that song in years, thank you, Denise-Marie.

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Miz Lynn aka/BooBoo Jul 28, 2007, 11:31am EDT

Wonderful poem, vivid!! It made me smile...

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Umar, Abu Nurain Jul 28, 2007, 11:31am EDT

Colors. Beautiful. Take a look at Jimi Hendrix's "Axis: Bold as Love. He does the colors there, too.

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Kathryn E. Jul 28, 2007, 11:42am EDT

Oh Umar, I will take a look. Have not heard or read Hendrix in years.

Thank you so much, Lynnie.

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Cyndi B. Jul 28, 2007, 11:42am EDT

I really liked this! A 10, for sure :)

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doria c. Jul 28, 2007, 11:43am EDT

You`ve colored my world today, Kathryn. Thank you!

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tina stiles Jul 28, 2007, 11:58am EDT

what a way to brighten up a day. thank you!!!

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Sue * Jul 28, 2007, 11:59am EDT

This is one of those poems that I wish I'd written...or thought of. I love color...and I love your words.

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Kathryn E. Jul 28, 2007, 12:24pm EDT

Thank you, Sue. A simple thing, really - we all just love colors.

stay cool...

thank you, tina

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Kathryn E. Jul 28, 2007, 12:29pm EDT

Thank you, doria

Thank you, Cyndi.

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John Philipp Jul 28, 2007, 12:41pm EDT

Kathryn, I enjoyed reading this and the cross-references to the colors and senses.

The very fact that you commented "periwinkle is more of a fall color" means to me you need to read The Color Conspiracy for the real story.

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Dan (Cowboy Up) V. Jul 28, 2007, 1:00pm EDT

Very "colorful" language! In a good way for a change! C):-)

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Edward Nudelman Jul 28, 2007, 1:06pm EDT

wonderful, vivid, Kodak splurge of sensual images to go with our colors. It's a wonderful facade for a playful and, may I say, colorful poem. I like this a lot. Your descriptions make these colors come alive. And to think, it's all varying wavelenghts of one thing: light

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Kathryn E. Jul 28, 2007, 1:11pm EDT

Ah, Ed - where would we be without spectrum, both visible and invisble: probably cold, unheated (microwaved) and living still in black and white. Not even sepia. Thank you.

thanks Cowboy UP!

John, I will check that link now. thank you.

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Kathryn E. Jul 28, 2007, 1:25pm EDT

Ah John, colors are such a woman's thing, like a department store, itself. Managers refer to the shopper as "she".

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Heather W. Jul 28, 2007, 1:53pm EDT

I really like this! Thank you for sharing :)

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Linda K. Jul 28, 2007, 1:53pm EDT

Periwinkle...a fall color? Oh no, no, no. Think beautiful periwinkle Hydrangeas, periwinkle Asters, periwinkle flip flops, etc. :-) I loved this. A 10 for making me smile today!

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Kathryn E. Jul 28, 2007, 2:13pm EDT

Ah linda, You got me there. But hydrangeas and I do not get along. I despise this fave, especially the blue.

thanks for the smile.

thanks heather w.

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Heather C. Jul 28, 2007, 2:26pm EDT

I could just smell the sweetness of the little babies and remember the softness of their skin. I could feel the sun warming my skin and the coolness of the glass of lemonade with the drops of condensation in it. The colors of the afternoon and the smell of the grill permeate my nostrils... uh, I got lost there..I think I better go get something to eat..

Good imagery, I loved this one tremendously!

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Otelia S. Jul 28, 2007, 2:50pm EDT

Excellent writing. Thanks.

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Kathryn E. Jul 28, 2007, 3:11pm EDT

elle, that is very amuzing...ah california, the golden purple state or the purple golden state.

thanks otelia

thanks heather campbell

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Angela B (There IS a light at the end of the tunnel) Jul 28, 2007, 4:37pm EDT

I like it!

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Sheila Deeth Jul 28, 2007, 4:52pm EDT

Nice play with colors. Enjoyed it.

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Kathryn E. Jul 28, 2007, 5:20pm EDT

thanks angela b

thanks sheila d.

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Nothing Fancy Jul 28, 2007, 5:41pm EDT

I've always thought of brown as nothingness so i relate to the poem and enjoyed it! :-)

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Kathryn E. Jul 28, 2007, 5:58pm EDT

hmmm, Sabrinia - brown is such a great fashion color, but its appeal escapes me. Brown is the new black; green is the new black; navy should be the new black, too.

summer colors and spring colors are my favorite. Holiday and winter colors come in strong, too- red, white, black, winter white, ivory, gold, silver, blue... such a delight when the spring pastels and summer hot brights come in.

I am NOT an autumn color person, at all. But brown has its appeal, for someone.

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