Food Coloring,” Marjorie Talaga

Food Coloring

Marjorie Talaga

Yolks, detached with reverent hands from Clinging albumen cushions, Stare up like lemon suns herded together, Quivering in their new glass home. Yellow, most luminous of all, color of joy, happiness and creativity. Now turned on its dark side. Cowardice, betrayal, madness.

Lettuce, the daisy’s cousin, bouquets of shapes and shades to rival flowers. The delicate salad queen reposes in her bowl throne With radishes and shallots, Cucumbers and tomatoes adorning her. Green, the color of nature, growth, harmony and healing. Now the dark green of greed and jealousy, the yellowgreen of discord.

Grapes, berries on woody vines, providing the harvester With wines and jams, raisins and oils. Clinging together in clusters like family trees, Delightful in shape, joy in plucking off one-by-one. Purple, the color of royalty, wisdom, dignity. Now the dark purple of gloom, frustration and sadness.

Beet, underground, with dominant taproot Boring straight down. Stalks and leaves above disclose The hiding place of ancient Aphrodite’s aphrodisiac. Red, emotional, intense, the color of fire and blood, desire and love. Now rivulets of dark red anger and rage join The spreading pool of sickness and death.

Blueberries, native North Americans, Tiny members of the heather family, Nutrition powerhouse, superfood for heart and brain. All this beauty in a slatted berry basket. Blue surrounds me with the color of sky and sea.

Tranquility and kindness, Trust, loyalty, wisdom, faith, truth and heaven

saturate my very being.

I do not bow, bewitched no more by dark and bubbling cauldrons in the ditches Of familiar everyday misery. I vow to drag my clouded eyes up, squint in the new light Until the cataracts are peeled away and all is clear vibrant blue Shining and pulsing across the universe.