The world is...

The world is...

Blue is the colour for inspiration, imagination, freedom. Blue like the ocean, like the sky on clear days. Cobalt for the pottery your grandmother made or in that blue china set your mother wouldn't let you near when you were younger. Azure for your older sister's gemstone collection, or that one bird that always wakes you up in the morning. Azure means confidence and responsibility. Cadet blue for your eyes, detailed with other shades, your eyes that shine when tears fall, that let you see. Prussian blue for that ball gown you really love in one of your books, but you're not sure you parents would let you have, or that lamp in the living room. Those blueberries in your lunchbox are royal blue; trustworthiness and reliability. Or your keychain hanging off your schoolbag. Yes! That little sapphire heart one! Your sister must be calm, turquoise like her room and her hair highlights. You want to be just like her. That ice-cream you had last week as a treat for winning your competition was sky blue or those little hearts you drew on your maths test. The world is blue.

The world is...

Red, the colour for sacrifice, danger, and courage. Heat, activity, passion, sexuality, anger, love, and joy. Cherry red lipstick that your mother uses, the birdhouse in the garden is painted cherry. There is a red and white plaid tea towel in your kitchen. The crimson topaz that sits on your bedroom windowsill looking at you with love and courage. Your mother plays a mahogany violin for you before you sleep. When you went on holiday with your family, the beautiful sunset was vermillion and so was when your sister's girlfriend tried to dye her hair a few years ago. You saw a picture of your mother in a merlot jumpsuit when she was in high school. Your grandpa's cottage in Sweden is falu red. He made us some carmine-coloured macarons while we visited. Energy, passion, strength, physical activity, creativity, warmth, and security. The world is red.

The world is...

Purple like the Queens, creativity, royalty, femininity, rarity, and spirituality. Matte purple for that car you saw once on a highway. Glaucous purple is your favourite. You love the way it's not too bright but not too dim. You love the way it looks, sparkling in a calming way. It's almost blue. It holds memories. The first time you wore makeup, a sky with clouds on your eyelid. Violet coloured flowers dot the garden, sweet aromas encasing your house. The lilac paint has run out, so you need to buy more. Your sister painted a lilac painting. The night sky is indigo, so is your favourite picture, a woman with dim purple hair and purple lips and a feather coat. Your grandma has a heather woven sweater. Iris's grow near the pond and your mothers nail polish is orchid. My sister's dress is sangria. I have an amethyst ring that my mother gave me. The world is purple.

The world is...

Brown is resilience, dependability, security, and safety. Mum's morning coffee that heats you up from the inside. Walnut brown is the colour of the seat in your grandmother's house; she makes you the best cinnamon rolls. My sister's hair is cinnamon brown. The chocolate you received for your birthday, the trees outside, their rough bark and smooth core. A marshmallow floats around in your hot chocolate, the warm brown liquid that contrasts the bright cup. It sits on our burnt umber table in the kitchen. A leaf falls onto the deck of your house. The colour of autumn. The hickory suit you see someone wearing in the city, it looks very professional. The cookies in the oven turn a soft tan colour. The copper coin that has stayed in your purse for years. You saw a girl with copper hair once, you remember her to this day. Your mother has ash brown hair. Your friend has sepia cups which you grew a liking to. The wren that chirps outside your window in the afternoon. The vintage type photographs you fell in love with. Send a letter away to your brother. The world is brown.

The world is...

Green means growth, harmony, fertility, and freshness. Fresh like the grass in your garden, the oak leaves in the park that encase the tree in summer. Emerald green forests, the mesh dress, the emerald nails. A sage green lime in your drink; the bow and soap bar in the bathroom. The sea green ocean, the succulents on your windowsill. Mint green ice-cream in a bowl, olive green eyeshadow. Pine green beads on the Christmas tree. A misty moss forest, cool green serpent, slithering on dew-soaked tree leaves. Vines creeping up fences, moss blanketing rocks. Army green uniform for your beloved brother. You hope he comes back; he'd be so proud of you, oh how you've grown. The hunter green four-leaf clover you sent to him. Seafoam green roller-skates hidden away in your wardrobe. Green in your countries flag; green, gold, and blue Brazil. You hold onto the chartreuse bouquet of flowers. The world is green.

The world is...

Yellow is joy, happiness, betrayal, optimism, caution, idealism, imagination, hope, sunshine, summer, gold. Philosophy, dishonesty, cowardice, jealousy, covetousness, deceit, illness, hazard, and friendship. Yellow like how the sun appears, sunflowers dot the field. Yellow canaries twitter and sing. The watermelon in the fridge is yellow and there is yellow lipstick in the makeup aisle. Daffodils, lemons, roses, mimosa wattles, summer dresses, pineapples. Gold jewellery, Dijon mustard, amber honey, saffron icing. Running through a field of dandelions in spring, the flowers brushing your legs. A cream yellow bodice, summer treat of mango ice cream, Citrine gems and pastel yellow daisies. Tuscany yellow bikes in Italy, bumblebees. Butter yellow puffy sleeved crop top. A girl who had blond yellow hair. The world is yellow.

The world is...

Orange for optimism, happiness, enthusiasm and youthful connections, arrogance, pride, and impatience. Tangerines and oranges in the fruit bowl. Peaches and peach flowers and frosting, sweet on your tongue. Safety orange traffic cones and vests. Pumpkins on Witches Day, rust orange thread and leaves in autumn. Marigolds in the garden, gingerbread at Christmas. Honey oranges in front of warm fires. Mountains of spices collected from around the world, cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, ginger, cayenne, paprika, and cloves. Apricots and mandarins set out on a plate, cut into quarters. An orange cushion sits on our sofa. Autumn is persimmon season. Bronze kitchenware in a cupboard. The world is orange.

The world is...

Pink is the colour of love, nurture, compassion, comfort, warmth hope, and good health. Light pink cherry blossoms in Japan and dark pink raspberries. Hot pink jumpsuits are all the rage. Roses, Galahs, seashells, marshmallows, crystals, and strawberry milk. Your flushed cheeks, and sweets. The colour of love. Your salmon pink backpack and beads. A pale pink pearl bodice and feather earrings. Blush pink tinted dinner glasses and bright pink glitter. Bows and gloves, A door, a blanket. Dragon fruit and fairy floss, melts on your tongue. Dusty pink flowers wrapped in string and a peachy pink lantern hanging on the ceiling, the flame dancing and casting shadows on the wall. Flamingos standing craning their necks to see the sky. The world is pink.

The world is...

Grey is wisdom and the dignity of experience. My grandparent's grey hair, silverware, and necklace chains. Clocks as old as time and coins from foreign lands. Ashen roofs and sooty chimneys protecting us from thunderstorm clouds overhead, up above. Koalas, Bilbies in the wild and pigeons populating the cities, looking for your food crumbs. Doves sit on branches of twiggy bare trees. Graphite and charcoal pencils in your sister's art studio. A pebble path joins your front doorstep to the road. Slate tiles on your neighbour's roof and marble pillars in rich places. At nightfall you wish to hear a Great Gray owl call through the blackness of the night. Crumbling ruins of goddesses in Greece, the temples and castles that used to stand have fallen. Warriors remembered by a heroic figure; emotions frozen in time, encased in stone. The world is grey.

The world is...

White is the symbol of purity, perfection, honesty, cleanliness, and beginnings. Walls of buildings, protecting the secrets of that place. Broken eggshells swept under the rug. Pearls strung around necks and hung from ears, found at the bottom of an ocean. Alabaster white for deception of the eyes. Snow White, the princess we got told stories about and why not to trust strangers, the colour of the snowflakes that fall on cold winter days from clouds. Ivory sculptures of Gods and mythical creatures and beings. Cotton plants are harvested to make the clothes you wear now. Chiffon, lace, and silk. The flesh of a coconut and the porcelain face that can't ever be cracked. The world is white.

The world is...

Black is for elegance, wealth, restraint, and power. The crows that screech death, mourning, evil magic, and darkness. That ebony box that no one opens that sits on the mantlepiece. The aftermath of a fire; chunks of charcoal, ash and burnt wood scattered around. Midnight black contrasts the stars and the iris of your eye that reflects the sky. The ink that your grandmother can't let go of and the raven hair she lost. Onyx and obsidian dug from the ground and created into something magical. Black jade glints from within the dirt. Leather shoulder bags and purses draped on people's shoulders and clutched in hands. The world is black.

I hope you enjoyed this sensory and loving poem full of memories. Take this story of a young person back and reflect on how life can be beautiful and broken. Spread love not hate. Love you all!

1600 words