Tetrachromancy
Oh, to have had the power to see the colours
I saw snowflakes dance in the sky on the day we met. I saw the bright crescent moon on the night of our first date. I saw a pure soul when you kissed me and I was enchanted by your smile, as sparkling white as my wedding gown.
I didn’t see the emptiness to come.
I saw the greens of fresh grass and newly budding trees on our first spring walk. I saw the emeralds in the earrings you gave me on our anniversary, and the green football jersey I gave you.
I never saw the colour of your envy.
I saw the reds of roses on my birthday and Valentines. I saw the cinnabar candy hearts you loved and the twinkling red lights on the Christmas tree.
I couldn’t envision the fire of your anger.
I saw the brilliant yellows of the setting sun, and the spring daffodils. I saw the canaries and the warblers and heard their beautiful songs.
I never saw your cowardice, but I heard your shouts.
I saw the black of the stormy night sky as the thunder crashed and I cuddled in your arms. I saw the bears on our trips up north and the squirrels in the trees outside our window. I tasted the blackberries – your favourite.
I was blinded to the cold charcoal of your heart.
Should I have seen?
Could I have known?
Oh, to have had the power to see the true colours,
behind your blue eyes.
About the Creator
Cathy holmes
Canadian family girl with a recently discovered love for writing. Other loves include animals and sports.
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Absolute Zero
My ambitious maw couldn't keep me warm anymore. You were the wolfhound that kept attacking it to sustain yourself. Everything you could steal, you did no matter how insignificant. You siphoned my life in small increments in order to achieve a sense of regularity. It was all for appearance's sake. You were the rat king my tail kept getting attached to. I would scurry away but all to no avail. I wallowed in compromise and misery in an attempt to be less for you. I was driven but you were threatened by anything resembling intelligence. You loved me being incomplete. I pretended to be deaf so you could speak for me. I chose silence so you could choose for me instead. I learned to surrender because you felt some desperate need to be in command. My opinion of you continued to shrink. You were never the almighty one you convinced yourself you were. It's amazing how fragile your masculinity was so you had to take my dignity to supplement. I was the undead carcass you kept feeding on. You couldn't find your own food source so you used me for your appetite. You refused to find shelter so I became your haven at the expense of myself. You somehow always knew better, it seemed. Like there was written proof somewhere out there in the cosmos that you were the superior one. I was the deluded victim you had to subjugate and keep isolated. You made it your life's mission to devalue me. You did everything to justify your abusive and callous behavior. You were always my biggest disappointment, You made sure I didn't deserve better. I had to worship you because you lived off of recognition. I was kept hostage for 15 years while you remained drunk off of my tears. I was the aberration I sought but could never enforce. You were the unwelcome savior that felt compelled to trap me. I was held captive and was forced to enjoy it. I soared beyond your limitations but you punished me for that. My entropy was at always at your mercy. You wanted me at my lowest, at absolute zero. My energy was at your disposal. I was a dedicated zombie that couldn't breathe without your permission. I was forever caught in your perpetual undertow. What would it mean to prosper? What would it feel like to reclaim my power? I was the walking dead you feared would rise against you one day. I wasn't willing to join you at your subterranean level. My melancholy is no longer my friend. I have slowly ascended to the height I always pictured myself achieving. My endeavors refuse to be frigid and tepid. You are banished to the frozen exteriors of my mind. Where polar ice and bleak extremities knew me so well. I was once at absolute zero. I was a former version of myself you kept hidden for fear of losing to. I'm not who I used to be. I am allowed to evolve beyond arctic cold. I'm thawing out, slowly but surely. The temperature is rising and so am I. My heat obliterated you because you kept stripping me of it. I was a motionless entity, encased in marble glacier, a reminder of all that I had dreamt of. Those dreams have returned. They have bestowed their value unto me once more. I'm not your captive anymore. I've been diminished long enough. Go be one with your beloved entropy. My energy cannot be destroyed nor removed anymore. You have no more influence over me anymore
By Anna Torresabout 21 hours ago in Poets
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Comments (54)
This is so beautifully sad Cathy. It echoes the feelings of so many souls across the universe. Such depth and truth contained in your words. Congrats on TS.
Thank you so much. 😊
I must echo Poppy here, Cathy. This is incredible. The subtle, true emotion underlying the sweetness of the surface (still true, of course) is tantalizing until the end, which promptly punched me with the softest of horrible blows. This is one of my favorites of yours (so far!). So, so well done. Wow.
Oh. My. Gosh. I don’t know how I haven’t already read this but now it’s definitely my favourite of yours!! I don’t know how to put into words how much I enjoyed it. I’m about to read it again though! The juxtaposition and structure make this incredibly powerful. You weaved in the colours in such an expert way. You are so talented Cathy. This is just perfect in every way. I’m blown away!
wow 53 comments now... pretty cool idea with the color comparisons!
Excellent as always though this one left me feeling angry for the narrator. Your words can stir strong emotions. Quite the superpower :)
I xoulf have sworn I left a comment on this previously. I may be cracking up! Excellent as ever and really poignant to boot. 🥰
The use of colours to show the two sides is beautifully done. I loved this so much!
This is so moving. Beautiful imagery and such strong emotions. You are outstanding!
wow,wonderful
Fabulous!
Wow, fantastic! I love it!
I really enjoyed the use of colours to build scenes. Well done
Beautiful! The flow is so perfect and the imagery is great!
I was drawn in by the image you chose and stayed for your words, they resonated!
Love never see the wrong side everything is always right in good relationship
Wonderful piece, enjoyed it a lot
Oh, I love these visuals and that knife-twist at the end 💙
Good work. Nicely written with contradictions. Great job!
WOW!!! This is truly outstanding writing.
I feel this. Beautifully written and sad like truth is sometimes. ♥️
I like reading pieces, be it poetry or pros that ends with a soft but lingering presence of something significant. You did that here, thanks for sharing Cathy.
This poem so is well-crafted, with a clear message and beautiful use of imagery. Subscribing for sure
I love this work! It definitely deserves to be in the top <3
Excellent ❤️❤️