What is Orange?
Orange is a tiger lily,
A carrot,
A feather from
A parrot,
A flame,
The wildest color you can name.
Saying good-bye
In a sunset that
Shocks the sky.
Orange is brave
Orange is bold
It’s bittersweet
And marigold.
Orange is zip
Orange is dash
The brightest stripe
In a Roman sash.
Orange is an orange
Also a mango.
Orange is the music
Of the tango.
Orange is the fur
Of the fiery fox,
The brightest crayon
In the box.
And in the fall
When the leaves are turning
Orange is the smell
Of a bonfire burning.
by: Mary O’Neil, from Hailstones and Halibut Bones
Beautiful book. Beautiful colors. So fun to look inside after so any years. Love the climbing flower.
lois
LikeLike
I don’t think I’ve ever seen an orange dragonfly. Pretty cool!
LikeLike
Mom, when I saw that orange of the dragonfly and of my beautiful little native plant, I went searching for the book to see what she wrote about the color orange. It’s such a favorite old book.
Nancy, I’d never seen one, either. I was so excited when I saw it on our car antenna, and I was thrilled that it stayed put while I took its photo.
LikeLike
What a fun poem. And what a gorgeous columbine! At least that’s what I think it is.
LikeLike
I love it!
LikeLike
Fantastic poem – thanks for sharing it. Gorgeous dragonfly too! I love the orange of the sunset that shocks the sky… one of most favourite things.
LikeLike
“orange is the music of the tango”
True!!
LikeLike
Les, you’re right! It’s a “red columbine,” although my petals look very orange.
Thanks, Jessica! Me, too.
Thanks, Tamara. It’s a lovely little book of poems, from way back when. And I love orange sunsets, too.
Pamela, yes, I agree! — orange is the music of the tango…
LikeLike