navwin » Archives » Open Poetry #44 » If I Woke Up Black
Open Poetry #44
Post A Reply Post New Topic If I Woke Up Black Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa

0 posted 2009-01-24 01:06 PM



IF I WOKE UP BLACK
17 December 2005

if I woke up black
I would sprint at once to buy
a sun-yellow dress

Owl

© Copyright 2009 Diana van den Berg - All Rights Reserved
2islander2
Member Ascendant
since 2008-03-12
Posts 6825
by the sea
1 posted 2009-01-24 01:42 PM


I imagine this is beautiful, the color of the skin is hazardous and I like the beautiful contrast you propose.

yann  

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
2 posted 2009-01-24 02:04 PM


Thank you, (I think), Yann!  I am not sure what you mean by the colour of the skin being dangerous.  

Owl

Robert E. Jordan
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-25
Posts 8541
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
3 posted 2009-01-24 02:05 PM


Yo Owl,

That would work for you, just like Mrs. Obama.

Bobby

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
4 posted 2009-01-24 02:08 PM


Giggles, Bobby.  I hope it would!

Owl

2islander2
Member Ascendant
since 2008-03-12
Posts 6825
by the sea
5 posted 2009-01-24 05:37 PM


Hi Owl ,misuse of english language, hazardous doesn't mean dangerous in my mind....just random of the color.

yann

Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
6 posted 2009-01-24 06:49 PM


Diana...I love the idea of this.  It's perfect for this short form.  I think I would too.
ethome
Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada
7 posted 2009-01-24 07:26 PM


He he that's just so darn cute I love it!

Eric

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738

8 posted 2009-01-24 09:34 PM


And I could wear chartreusse without looking hepatically challenged.



You express, without racism, the envy of us all who see the beauty in contrasts.


Pilgrimage
Member Elite
since 2001-12-04
Posts 3945
Texas, USA
9 posted 2009-01-24 10:40 PM


How absolutely perfect!  You made me smile in real delight.

Nan (Pilgrim variety)

TinaTrivett
Senior Member
since 2006-07-15
Posts 569

10 posted 2009-01-24 11:11 PM


This is pure sunshine.  

edited to add: I thought Michelle looked wonderful in her yellow dress too.

[This message has been edited by TinaTrivett (01-25-2009 02:29 PM).]

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
11 posted 2009-01-25 02:20 AM


Oh, OK, I see now, Yann.  You got this via "par hasard".  Now I understand what you mean.  Smiles.

Thank you Martie, we are birds of a feather, Martie-bird.  What a great person you are - sometimes called a flower, and now a bird, and knowing me, you know what a compliment that is!  

Thank you Eric.  I am glad you felt it so well.

Thank you, Karen for your beautiful Karen-comment, deep with understanding and compassion.  That is exactly what I was trying to portray.  You understand me so well.  I had to look up chartreuse and now know its description, but would love you to send me e.g. a little block of colour as close as possible to the exact colour in your mind, if you have the time.  I love the "hepatically challenged"!  That is exactly why I don't wear yellow, but have never had such a succint, humorous way of explaining why!  Smiles.

Pilgrimage, and YOU make me smile in delight.  I love delighting people, and that was my aim with this poem, as well as describing my delight at being able to wear yellow if I woke up black - as well as explaining that not being able to wear it is an envy issue and not a jealousy issue!  

Thank you Tina for your warm punny reply!

Owl

turtle
Senior Member
since 2009-01-23
Posts 548
Harbor
12 posted 2009-01-25 03:08 PM


Hi Owl,

I think we are approaching a point, in this nation, where skin color is a non-issue. At least I hope so. I'm happy to see your joy, in a sun-yellow dress, but I think your joy may be more about the dress lol!

turtle

Oklahoma Rose
Senior Member
since 2008-02-28
Posts 1586
Oklahoma USA
13 posted 2009-01-25 10:26 PM


I like yellow. You are so poetic.
OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
14 posted 2009-01-26 12:21 PM


Thank you turtle.  You say you think my joy would be more about the dress.  More about the dress than what?  Just curious.  Smiles.

Thank you, Sue.  I like yellow too.  I used to have a dress with yellow and orange splotches and I looked OK in that, but just yellow up near my face makes me look ghostly, and, as Karen put it, hepatically challenged!

Owl

Owl

Alison
Deputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318
Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy!
15 posted 2009-02-08 11:30 AM


Beautiful - you make me smile.

A

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
16 posted 2009-02-08 12:15 PM







Linda

passing shadows
Member Empyrean
since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577
displaced
17 posted 2009-02-08 12:32 PM


neat write! Enjoyed!
OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
18 posted 2009-02-08 04:04 PM


Thanks, Alison.  Smiles.  Glad you saw the humour and that I made you smile.

Thank you, Linda.  It is my guess that there is a picture in your response as there is a space before your name (I can only see this in the Print format so far and it doesn't show the pictures.)  I will come back later when it hopefully will be showing - perhaps after I have posted this reply.

Thanks Dixie.

Owl

gilead
Senior Member
since 2008-03-10
Posts 1067
nevada, USA
19 posted 2009-02-08 07:02 PM


Very novel and fresh! I think of sunlight and darkness, sharing the terminator between day and night.

art

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
20 posted 2009-02-09 10:44 AM


Thank you.  The thought just jumped into my head when seeing a black woman in a yellow top.  I was envious, not jealous.  

Owl

Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
21 posted 2009-02-09 01:22 PM


The grace of this
is all you.

Lovely, lovely!


OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
22 posted 2009-02-09 01:28 PM


Thank you Karilea, for enjoying this so much.  

Oh, Linda, now I can see the picture!  There is me having woken up black (and so much younger and prettier) and in my sun-yellow dress!!!  Thank you!  

Owl

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
23 posted 2009-02-09 02:32 PM


I'm glad that you are finally able to see your alter ego! Both of you are young and pretty!


Linda

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
24 posted 2009-02-09 02:50 PM


Giggles, Linda.  Thank you for the thought, but your glasses ain't workin any longer!

I can't believe that the dress really is EXACTLY SUN-yellow!  

Owl

Earth Angel
Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
25 posted 2009-02-09 02:57 PM


Trust me, dear Diana, it took quite a bit of searching to find that pic for you! ~ but you and your alter ego are worth it!


LL

OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
26 posted 2009-02-09 03:06 PM


Thank you, Linda!  It's delightful!

Owl

Margherita
Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236
Eternity
27 posted 2009-02-09 04:57 PM


This has a wonderful spontaneity in it, dear Diana. I love the combination of colors as displayed in Linda's picture.

If I woke up black I would run and buy a lilac dress, or chartreuse like Karen, yes. In summer we might dare ...

Love and hugs.
Margherita

Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
28 posted 2009-02-09 05:07 PM


Ahem. A blazing red dress for me, methinks.
OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
29 posted 2009-02-10 11:10 AM


Thanks Margherita!  Yes, yellow on a black skin is stunning, but against most white skins (unless very, very tanned) usually looks awful!  Lilac too, I would think, though not as bad as yellow.  

Will somebody PLEASE send me a block that is chartreuse?  I have read the description, but would love to see what at least one person regards as exactly chartreuse?

Thank you Karilea.  I would imagine that with your lovely blonde hair that you would look stunning in red even if you never wake up black!  

Owl


Margherita
Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236
Eternity
30 posted 2009-02-10 04:10 PM


Ces roses sont de la couleur vert chartreuse, c'est un vert clair ...



Bisous.


Earth Angel
Member Empyrean
since 2002-08-27
Posts 40215
Realms of Light
31 posted 2009-02-10 05:12 PM


Here you go! Chartreuse in all its splendor!

http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chartreuse_green  


Linda


OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
32 posted 2009-02-10 07:34 PM


Merci beaucoup, Margherita et Linda!!!

Owl

Post A Reply Post New Topic ⇧ top of page ⇧ Go to Previous / Newer Topic Back to Topic List Go to Next / Older Topic
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format.
navwin » Archives » Open Poetry #44 » If I Woke Up Black

Passions in Poetry | pipTalk Home Page | Main Poetry Forums | 100 Best Poems

How to Join | Member's Area / Help | Private Library | Search | Contact Us | Login
Discussion | Tech Talk | Archives | Sanctuary