The colour of my town
Red
was Johnny Barlow
with his lightning fists
that drew blood in a blur.
Yellow
was Urger,
who stood behind,
with crooked teeth,
spitting, and cursing;
Blue
were Miss Spencer's eyes,
pale, and shining,
and fading distant grey
as the taxi drove away.
Green
was my Dad's handkerchief,
ironed,
pressed into the pocket
above his heart;
a box of handkerchiefs
Mum gave him on his birthday
two weeks before she died.
Brown
was dry grass all summer,
a dead snake,
cane toads squashed flat,
our house smeared in oil;
nothing that lives,
nothing that shines.
White
was Mum's nightgown,
the chalk Miss Carter used
to write my name;
hospital sheets,
and the colour of Linda's cross.
(page one)
