HUES OF LIFE

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HUES OF LIFE

One fine noon, I was asked to define

Of all the colours, I had seen till my prime

Which one hue, was I most akin to

Was it red, pink or green; was it ochre or blue?

The confab and query seemed a bit infantile

But I paused and pondered, then answered with a smile.

When my muscles were stronger and mind more agile
I could climb every tree and run a fast mile

Trudge through deserts and swim in deep seas  

Fly like a butterfly and sting like a bee

The colour of my life was a healthy bright pink

And from that fountain of youth I thought, I'd forever drink.

But the fountain ran dry and life went awry

Problems came knocking, friends said goodbye

Joy was elusive and played hide n seek

Gloom all pervasive, jobs mostly bleak

The sun still rose daily, but never for me

So pink turned to blue and life looked dreary.

I made peace with blue and embraced my new life

But fate foiled my plans and struck like a knife

Obituaries looked familiar and faces therein

My emotions went numb as tears wet my skin

With alarming frequency, I began wearing white

And the colours changed again, without an invite.

As the loss of my loved ones made me ruminate

The agnostic in me finally knocked on faith’s gate

And slowly the noises, fell silent and mute

As God came calling in a cowherd's old flute

Soon the whites turned to ochre and ochre to red

And my soul felt so nourished and spirit well fed.

Now I love gardening and have a thumb green

With brown on my gloves and flowers umpteen

As I look at the sky which has just shed some rain

A rainbow appears as if to explain

That life’s not one colour, that just never fades

It's myriad in nature, so embrace every shade.

                                                  - Priti Singh