A Dream in Lapis and Saffron
(This poem was written in response to a series of paintings by Leopi Nicola. Click on the image to see the paintings on her web site.)
[1]
Within a golden dawn
night glows
a cerulean shade
in the face of a boy
holding in his lap
an azure ocelot cub.
[2]
A saffron goddess
brings forth life
from between her thighs
on the indigo bed
of her lover's body
as a turquoise tide of dreams
surges from the source.
[3]
The sky blue pyramid of a family
divides light of daybreak
from shade of dusk
when, from the hand
of evening's son,
falls a crimson flickering flame.
[4]
Emerging from a softly blazing field
the cobalt moon woman
releases broad winged
aquamarine butterflies
from her
fluttering sapphire fingers.
[5]
Copper rings his cool, watery brow
as, in his dance,
he leaps through sparks
and from his lapis palm
emerge metallic halos of light.
[6]
"Cold, clear night,
aurora of morning,
and warm sun
gleam from within our
faces, hands and flesh.
Our bodies naked and proud,
we look out at you
to tell our stories.
Can't you hear our voices
as we sing?"