by LAWRENCE FERLINGHETTI
The carrier of my true colours
There is a colour that is created when young children mix all the acrylic paints available.
Sludge brown.
That is the colour I paint myself.
Mongrel it appears with it's specks and streaks and revelation at the edges.
But it is a colour steeped with history and memory and promise.
It is the carrier of my true colours.
firebrand red
challenging injustice
evergreen
rebirth, regrowth, regeneration
infinity blue
the realm of dreams and visions and possibility
a hint of white
a reflection of all that is divine
There is a colour I paint myself.
It is the carrier of my true colours.
"True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper You with the sad eyes Don't be discouraged Oh I realize It's hard to take courage In a world full of people You can lose sight of it all And the darkness inside you Can make you feel so small But I see your true colors Shining through I see your true colors And that's why I love you So don't be afraid to let them show Your true colors True colors are beautiful, Like a rainbow Show me a smile then, Don't be unhappy, can't remember When I last saw you laughing If this world makes you crazy And you've taken all you can bear You call me up Because you know I'll be there And I'll see your true colors Shining through I see your true colors And that's why I love you So don't be afraid to let them show Your true colors True colors are beautiful, Like a rainbow [Whisper:] Can't remember, when I last saw you laugh. If this world makes you crazy And you've taken all you can bear You call me up Because you know I'll be there And I'll see your true colors Shining through I see your true colors And that's why I love you So don't be afraid to let them show Your true colors True colors True colors are shining through I see your true colors And that's why I love you So don't be afraid to let them show Your true colors True colors are beautiful, Like a rainbow. | How to create 'sludge brown'? I cut out a small piece of white fabric and soaked it for several hours in some instant coffee. Sludgy enough! I found a treasure trove of embroidery threads and chose some to stitch slowly and randomly onto the body. I used cross stitch and running stitch. The green running stitch around the base of the torso catches the arm of the figure. (perhaps it is holding back from revealing my true colours) The ends of thread I pulled from the needle and attached it to the hair line, together with torn scraps of coffee stained fabric. The white heart is reflective. |