I started with a question, as I so often do: what kind of alive am I? A black and white head resting on a mélange of pattern and color—my mask, the face I offered to the world, was meant to be unnoticed. Fade to grey, merge with the background, don’t draw attention, don’t stand out. Could I change?
Alas, my clothing choices have remained much the same since I questioned them in 2016. Black, black and more black. A brightly colored scarf, perhaps. I still wish to remain unperceived as I make my way through the world. But now I wonder: is alive only visible on the surface of things? Or can we gift the world with rainbows from the inside out?
unseen waves absorbed
reflected transformed singing
colors dancing light
For Kim’s dVerse prompt: Snapshots of our Lives. You can see the original post with the complete self-portrait collage, as well as the Delmore Schwartz poem that inspired my original poem, here.
My 100 Self-Portrait Project is still stalled at #21.
K. 
To see the rainbows inside people have to look. Keep on being inconspicuous; the people who want to will find what’s there. Flamboyant dress often means, what you see is all you get.
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It’s true, it often becomes an end in itself.
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A good thing to settle for.
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We can. Inside out rainbow gifts, where we find and leave them. Lovely.
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Thanks Manja, I know you are good at seeing what is inside.
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Ahh! 🙂 What a wonderful observation. Thank you kindly, K.
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Those inside rainbows are always such special surprises, and such a joy to find! Lovely write. Stay safe!
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Thanks Beverly, you too.
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I still wish to remain unperceived as I make my way through the world.
Oh, how I identify with this, and that bright scarf! Though these days I find somehow that I’m turning to colour as a consolation…
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So good to see you! I would need a shopping spree to turn my wardrobe into color at the moment. But there are always paints paper and thread… (k)
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Your rainbows come out in your art. Dress in whatever way that makes you comfortable. (I’m pretty much living in pjs and sweats, but I the bright pink laces on one pair of sneakers I have makes me happy–like your bright scarf.)
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I get dressed every day, but without a washer and dryer I wear the same things over and over…who will know?
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I say, find those rainbows and let them shine.
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I do my best.
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