“Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises.” ~ Pedro Calderon de la Barca
Feeling winter weary and color starved?
I think I’ve had my fill of brown, grey and white. I know too well the bare bones of the trees, how they cast long shadows across our snow-blanketed yard. I’ve had lots of time to ponder the individuality of snowflakes and marvel at the magic of icicles. But enough with the bark and rocks and dry stalks.
I want green. And pink, yellow, lavender, teal. Drench me in indigo, lime, scarlet, magenta, emerald, fuschia, and orange. Read me a sweet poem that will transport me from my cozy armchair to a place of sheer delight. Let me feast on color.
COLOR
by Christina Rossetti
Source: The Golden Book of Poetry (1947)
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Yum! Was that as good for you as it was for me?
Okay, back to my armchair.
What’s your favorite color?
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Writer, coffee connoisseur and all-around beautiful person Karen Edmisten is hosting this week’s Roundup. Take her a bouquet of color and enjoy the full menu of poetic goodies being served up in the blogosphere. Speaking of color, have you been following Laura Shovan’s Pantone Poetry Project at Author Amok? It’s been fun to read the poetic responses to so many delicious colors. 🙂
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Copyright © 2014 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.
Oh yes, color! Lovely poem- I wasn’t familiar with it. As for my ONE favorite color, that’s impossible: periwinkle blue, lime green, coral red, creamy marigold yellow, aqua, rose pink, purple…
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Those are all luscious — I can see why it’s impossible to pick just one. 🙂
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Thank you, Jama, I really needed this blast of color this morning. I have a purple hyacinth that has finally bloomed on my kitchen windowsill and it has raised my spirits considerably. I’ve got two more on the brink of blooming! Life is good.
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Lovely! I don’t have any luck with indoor plants, so I envy your hyacinths!
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How to pick a favorite of all these beauties! I love the creative orange/fruit dioramas-that bicycle is delightful. But I also love that one of the butterfly-cannot wait for the spring of birds and butterflies. Just bought some flowers to bring into the house, a nice reminder of what’s coming! Thanks Jama. Oh-the cake is awesome too!
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I’m looking forward to spring strawberries and summer cherries :).
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simply luscious!
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Glad you dropped by to nosh with us, Sharon. Have a nice weekend!
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Rainbow-Brite in the house, woot!
I love color! Craved it in the cold, dreary months of winter, when I lived elsewhere. If I had to choose anyone color as my favorite, though, I’d choose French Blue. I would love someday to find that perfect shade, and to paint my front door with it, by way of welcoming the bluest skies, the warmest days, into my life every day.
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Sigh, what a wonderful idea — I love picturing your French Blue door. Now I’m hoping to see some bluebirds in the back yard, remembering Thoreau’s famous quote.
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Mmmmmm…. So THIS is where the rainbow ends, pouring itself out in your post! Thank you for such a visual feast, as well as a poetic one. [You are such a fantabulous writer: ” I know too well the bare bones of the trees…” – lovely.]
I am drinking in the quality of light in my new seaside digs – something I’ve missed since growing up in Florida. Colors are just more vibrant! I think I’ll hop on that wonderful orange bicycle up there and take a juicy little spin…
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Happy to hear you’re settling in nicely and enjoying what the seaside has to offer. Lucky you, surrounded by vibrant colors. Having that perfect quality of light is so important for artists, too.
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What fun to stop by today and be treated to this explosion of vivid colors, Jama. The flowers are my favorites – I am so yearning for Spring!
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I do love the colorful flowers too — something I have to mostly enjoy via pictures or other people’s gardens (we can’t grow flowers because of the deer).
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We all need a banana-skin rug! I’m tempted to try to make an orange bicycle for my bicycle-obsessed sweetheart. Thanks for all the colors, both visual and poetic.
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I was thinking the same thing about the banana skin rug. Talk about slipping on a peel :D. Would love to see how you do making your own orange bicycle.
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Ahhhhh! Thanks, Jama!
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My pleasure. Enjoy your weekend!
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Wow! That was a fun trip!
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Glad you liked it!
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I’m a red, red, red girl, all the way, but I loved your parade of color on this windy gray Colorado afternoon. Scrolled all the way down, then scrolled back up and did it all over again! Thanks so much!
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Glad you had fun scrolling through, Carol. I imagine the strawberries were your favorite, then? 🙂
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I like all colors, but red is my favorite. 🙂 Great post (the orange hunter was funny!)
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Another red person! Do you like red food best too?
If you like the orange hunter, take a look at Terry Border’s website for other fun pictures. He’s published two Bent Objects books and his children’s book is coming out this summer :).
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This is perfect to brighten up anyone’s day, Jama! Colors are lovely! I share your sentiment. As much as I enjoyed looking at snow and taking a bunch of winter photos, I would like to see bright colors around me! Those lines about orange are my favorite! The photographs are all lovely, I wouldn’t know what to choose if I had to choose only one! Thank you for sharing these today! =)
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Hi Fats! Glad you enjoyed all the colors. Those orange lines came as a pleasant surprise to me — it was nice to experience the poet’s playful side. 🙂
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Oh Jama Jama Jama How I do love to visit your blog at the end of my day. You’ve given us such a feast for our eyes and so much joy for our souls. Thank you for the poem and the colorful palette. Have a delightful weekend.
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Glad I was able to bring you a little joy and happy color, Margie. You’ve really had a tough winter where you live. Hugs to Xena — have a nice weekend!
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A quenching of the thirst of my heart for color!
Also: how much do I LOVE TERRY BORDER? He is incredibly silly. A perfect touch, thank you, thank you.
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I love Terry’s work too. Excited to hear he’s publishing a children’s book — Peanut Butter and Cupcake are the main characters, I think. 🙂
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Dear All-Around-Beautiful Jama,
Thank you for the sweet words and thank you for all this color! I needed it — I, too, am tired of marveling at the beauties of winter. Weary of dreary drab, I am ready for Spring to spring. Thanks for a taste of it — a feast of it — today!
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Spring will be that much better after this winter we’ve all had. Yes, enough of the dreary drab!
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Thanks for getting us in the mood for Spring. Lovely poem and that orange bike is cool.
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Take a ride on that orange bike to the breakfast of your dreams. 🙂
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Thank you for this blast of color, Jama! I spied daffodils on my evening walk last night, so I am all about green and yellow right now. 🙂 Most day, though, I’d say purple is my favorite color. Purple makes me happy! xo
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Oh, a purple girl! Creative and free spirited :). Jealous that you’re already seeing daffodils!
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Love your color feast. I think after that grand display of color, I’m voting for primary colors all. Splashes of color are coming out here. The pink Japanese magnolia and the white pear blossoms are the first. The birds and bees are ready to feast.
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Oh, pink magnolia — sounds pretty! Our robins are back so it won’t be long now.
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Hooray for bright colors! Beautiful post!
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Sending you a weekend bouquet, Ruth!
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I haven’t seen so much colour in a rainbow, what a wonderful post 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
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The only color missing is chocolate! I guess I like brown after all. 😀
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Thank you for the color bath! The Rossetti poem reminded me of the book Hailstones and Halibut Bones. You’ve read, no? I’m happy to report that where I am, the trees are beginning to blossom and spring is on its way!
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No, haven’t seen Hailstones and Halibut Bones. Will look for it, thanks!
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Rossetti’s poem has always been one of my favorites, and the photos you’ve shared! Wow! I love the eye-popping color. Thanks so much for sharing.
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Have a colorful week, Catherine!
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Just what I needed! The perfect pick-up!
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Glad a little color gave you a lift!
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