Sonnet for a shade
with apologies to John Milton
Sometimes a word’s feelz (connotation) overrides its actual definition, especially when memory is involved. Such is the case for me with a certain color, omnipresent in the ’70s of my childhood. Here’s my verse, inspired by a self-described rant-poem by kurt, crafted somewhat comically in the ancient Italian form favored by English poets.
Sonnet for a Shade
Refrigerator of my childhood days,
thy viridescent pallor such a fad,
not harvest gold or muted brown so sad.
O spiral corded telephone amaze
us with thy grassy hue. We sing thy praise!
Samsonite accessorized the nomad
with verdant luggage, flown abroad and glad.
Authentic hues: Polaroid holidays.
Oh fashion wizards how could you have known?
Your paint chips and swatches how they echo
in ashtrays, tumblers, autos chic, sublime
luggage, refrigerator doors or phones?
Iconic hues, classic to art deco.
Avocado, plucked. Set and fixed in time.
Here is an enormous yellow bird with a paean to another childhood hero and his ever-green magic. If you can manage a listen with dry eyes, you’ve got me beat:
