Pale Peony

White skin, black hair,

blue eyes,

born like snow white;

blending in.

Uniforms worn,

perfect ponytail

white kids said I was too pale;

not peachy enough.

Honest opinions

in an adolescent woman,

far from welcome;

relentless bullies remind:

Simpler to blend in.

Observing carefully

absorbing behaviors

leeching plastic colors.

Pink for girls,

must like boys;

muted colors

afraid to shine.

Pale peony tones

like old wall paper,

original to the home,

so she’s allowed to stay.

Marginal acceptance,

easier to blend in,

but it gets lonely

glued to the wall.

Watching calendars turn,

exchanges of sun and moon.

grass browning in the heat,

leaves catching fire in autumn,

white snow blanketing green;

waiting for the buds of spring…

reminding of color’s possibilities,

visual thrills,

made pale peony dream,

colors she once had,

passions she chose to forget:

How each piano’s key

was a different hue,

when played together,

what a marvelous palette.

How written words,

like acts of protest,

brightened white empty spaces,

with meaningful intentions.

How floral shorts,

brought color to spring,

how the sight created stirrings,

making pale peony blush.

Forgotten wallpaper,

no longer comfortable;

seeking water and sun,

like real flowers.

A bouquet of rainbows,

not blending in,

complimenting each other.

Lucky pale peony,

feeding the soul revealed vibrant colors.