'Shades of Blue' by Stella Turner

 In the beginning life was blue.

If it had been pink maybe life would have been better.

Mammy said blue was good but I never felt that!

Daddy never said much!

Granny yelled “Speak up”. When I yelled I felt the vivid blue of a bruise.

Seven blues I was the oldest. If one blue did wrong I felt the deep blue of the belt buckle.

Caught looking at the pale blue sky! Granny said I would live up there!

Mammy would laugh, her clear blue eyes sparkling, he’ll go down not up.

Mammy’s last baby was pink. Daddy spoke. He said “She’ll do”

I decided I didn’t like pink. Didn’t tell them where I hid Pink