We returned to the gray skies of Minneapolis yesterday, where I noticed upon leaving the airport that everything was gray – not just the skies! The buildings, the roads, the bark on the trees – even the State Capitol building – were all gray.
My husband and I were returning from a week in the US Virgin Islands (USVI) where it was 79 and sunny every day! Even though it’s February, the colors there are vibrant and alive. The flowers, trees, and flowering shrubs were all in bloom, the water was crystal clear, and various shades of teal, aquamarine, and turquoise, the sky was cobalt blue with white clouds, and even the buildings reflected joy in bright pinks, oranges, blues, and yellows in true Caribbean style.
Noticing the gray, upon our return prompted the following poem. It’s not finished, still in draft form, but will eventually be added to my Color Poem Collection which I hope to publish this spring.
Ode to St. John
Turquoise waters glistened in the sun While children played in the soft white sand for fun Catamarans slid silently by Their sails unfolded without a sigh Fuschia, lavender, and yellow flowers Dot the landscape with their colorful powers A centuries old windmill stands high on a hill Now, while abandoned, people still come for a thrill An incredible view, the best that I've seen, Leads to a white beach, where the ladies are lean. Green surrounds all other colors here, A rainbow fed life puts away any fear. Upon our return to our northern latitude, I'm determined to not let gray skies affect my attitude! © Draft, Carol Labuzzetta, All Rights Reserved. Published American Author This trip will keep me going through the rest of the gray winter months and beyond. Like, Fredrick the Mouse, I've stored the colors of the Caribbean in my mind for joy and fortitude until spring arrives in Wisconsin! Let me fortify you with a few of my favorite photos from the trip.
Today is Poetry Friday. The host for the round-up this week is Carol at Beyond Literacy Link where she is featuring our winter postcard exchange organized by Jone Rush Mac Culloch. Thank you for hosting, Carol. This is the second year I’ve participated in this exchange and truly enjoy communicating in an “old-fashioned, thoughtful, snail-mail way.” I save all the postcards I receive from the participants, whom I consider my poetry friends! Thank you, all!
If you want to read more about our trip, you can visit my Medium. com page or these links:
https://carollabuzzetta.medium.com/an-unlikely-start-to-a-friendship-are-we-them-da0884380c63
Thanks!
The Apples in My Orchard 
Wow–how beautiful. I like this line–” a rainbow fed life puts away any fear,” and I hope your drowning in color sticks with you for weeks!
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I too loved the turquoise waters surrounding the Bahamas. The colors of the Caribbean will float in my memory as I add your photos to my mind’s collection, Carol.
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It’s the ocean colors I miss the most when I return from the sea. Wow, what beauty you have left, so I understand your lovely capture in a poem, Carol. I love the idea of “colorful powers”. Keep them close!
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We’ve got blue skies today in grey Ohio — gotta take some color where and when you can get it!
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It was so much fun to read your lines about the abandoned windmill and then see the photo!
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I am swooning over those pictures and the poem. How I’d love to see some of the turquoise water!
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Oh, my! How beautiful. What an artists’ date. Just enough color to enjoy and get you through to real spring. Color poems…what a great idea!
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Those photos and colorful poem are a feast for my eyes. We are still in the grey Midwest winter.
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Beautiful memories in your poem, Carol. I want to go!
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Those scenes could carry you through anything! 🙂 Gorgeous.
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