Color Me Afraid

by Chris Patterson

In the green grass of the
neighborhood park,
there are times when
the light reveals the shadows
it has left behind.

Even the blue sky color of
broad daylight can carry
its tint.

The streaky violet, orange
and blue of a stunning
sunset can fade to a
violence that's as stunning
in its absurdity as in
its senselessness.

The dark of night becomes
the dead of night
under its influence.

Within the deep, blue end of the pool
the predator's theme runs
through your mind.

You may think the
color of money would
keep you safe, but
gold and silver only
give it strength.

You wake up
and breathe it.

You lie down
and dream of it.

It's there, crawling
on the back of
your neck.

It's there, gnawing
at the pit of
your stomach.

Here is a fear so pervasive,
it is only made remarkable
by its absence.

The Author

I was born in Elmira, New York and moved around to all the hot spots of the automobile industry growing up. After graduating from Michigan State University, I worked in Chicago as a writer/producer and director of local television and radio commercials and marketing videos for local companies. In 1995, I opened a bagel shop in Hilton Head, South Carolina. When that closed in 1999, I went to work for Walt Disney Company. I currently am a training facilitator at the Disney Reservation Center. I enjoy writing poetry, especially for my family and friends. You can find me on Live Journal as cap_killer.