Shades of Me

I’m simply not a special one

Not salmon-pink, I’m far more more dun

My colour fan, if that you seek

Says no – this guy is not unique.

*

I once was blonde, now fading grey

But bottled tints are not my way.

A nothing special, dull physique –

It’s not what you could call unique.

*

There was a time when all would dread

My visage turning crimson red.

Long gone my florid flaming pique

Which once you might have thought unique.

*

In time my lovely second wife

Brought radiant colour to my life.

My prospects not so cold and bleak,

All thanks to her – now she’s unique!

*

I used to earn an honest crust

But income turned from gold to rust

I now must think myself antique

In point of fact that’s not unique!

*

Retired, I wondered what to do

To stop my world from turning blue

From duck to navy, so to speak,

Which is not really so unique.

*

The written word is what I chose

Violet verse and crimson prose

For feelings true and sense oblique -

We’re getting closer to unique

*

That was a monumental scene -

The fight of orange versus green.

I’ve always been a history geek,

I’m not alone – that’s not unique.

*

And all those multicoloured shots –

This photo buff has taken lots.

I’ve worked up quite a cool technique

And some of them must be unique.

*

So there you are, Mesdames, Messieurs,

Some bits of me from down the years.

My colours from cerise to teak,

But can I claim to be unique?

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© John Welford