A Sestina for Little Picasso
By Brad Nelson
My son's favorite color—red,
but he also likes orange,
prefers colored pencils yellow,
wants his crayons green,
likes to watercolor with blue,
and loves to finger paint in purple.
Giraffes should be purple
spotted in red
with five legs of blue—
or is it six? Orange
eyes crossed, staring at a green
tongue drooping to grass grown yellow.
Yes, son, grass can be yellow,
and I'm sure some trees are purple.
I have seen a house that is green
all around with roof red,
matching doors of orange,
but who is this monster painted blue?
Yes, your mother is sometimes blue.
Yes, she does have beautiful yellow
hair—mixed with orange
mixed with purple
mixed with ... What is this red
thing? Is this the dog in green?
Well I hope the new baby is not green,
for your mother's sake. Blue
would not be much better. Red?
There may be some. Yellow
hair like yours? Purple
beard? I know this man in orange.
Though a slightly darker orange,
maybe, and eyes of green,
holding hands with a little purple
boy with big blue
eyes and yellow
hair, cheeks flushed red.
Shirt smeared red and face spattered orange,
A little boy, yellow brush clenched in green-
smeared fingers painting a blue paradise purple.
Absolutely adorable. Very clever.
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I grinned and grinned all through this piece Brad. I loved seeing you describe your son expressing himself and his artistic world with such delight.
Your refrigerator must be a sight to see. I imagine that there's a rotation of favorite drawings clamoring for pride of place.
Karen :0)
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Those were the days. I love the last line.
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Pulling off a sestina isn't easy! And pulling off one that is fun to read is even harder but this one was fun! I need to link it to my sestina article...
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This poem is a delight to read! The careful form of its construction adds to the delight. Great writing!
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