Poem on a Post-it [1]: Today, I am yellow

I was late today.

Late to my friend’s late Mum’s funeral.

Late because I was rushing, as I always do.

And because I had written a poem for her, but we couldn’t get the printer to work with the nice paper this morning.

And because, just as we were about to leave, my husband remembered that he’d read there was a request that we wear an item of her favourite colour.

Her favourite colour was yellow.

We looked all over the house for anything yellow. In the end, we wore a Lego daffodil each as a buttonhole. I didn’t even feel silly about it.

The service was stunning. Full of love, just as she was.

I hope she’ll forgive us those few minutes.

I was late, but I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

The poem I share today is not the one I wrote for my friend’s lovely Mum, that one feels too precious to send out to the world, today especially. This poem is one I wrote to a prompt from

Tamy Faierman M.D.

about colours. I remember the moment Tamy invited me to write about what colour I feel I am, and what I actually felt at first was a little confused, because I didn’t think I felt like any colour. But then I let the pen take over, and it decided that I was yellow. So this is ‘Today, I am yellow’ and it is dedicated to the inimitable Mama Clare.

I invite you today to think of a colour that is not your usual favourite. Perhaps even a colour you shy away from. Imagine yourself wearing that colour today. Imagine yourself embodying it. How does it feel?

Write down the words”{colour} is not my favourite colour, but…”

Let me know what poetry falls out of your pen?

With all my love, on this day so full of it,

Louise x

Text only version:

Today, I am yellow.
A light one, like a lemon
dropped a dose of colour
into a tub of buttercream

Yesterday, I was lavender
mixed with grey: a cloud
on a day that can’t quite 
decide what to be (like me)

Tomorrow, I am green.
Sage, in hue and wisdom.
My possibilities open,
like a budding leaf.