Truly

Truly,

I am white,

which might deter some

who think me colourless,

or uncoloured, unfinished,

an unpainted canvas, waiting

to become someone’s masterpiece.

They do not know

that I am quiet, right within

being white, light, shining bright,

too much reflective righteousness,

but glittering like an opal, a milk-white opal

flecked with blues and pinks, reds and purples.

I offset the glory of other colours,

a background, a context, a blankness

against which others can shine out,

show their colours to best effect.

I am not unpainted,

I am just full of possibilities,

so others can imagine the masterpiece

and shine their brightness upon mine.