Oh, Orange

I love autumn. This photo is a close-up of a decoration I set out every year.

“Oh, Orange” is a favorite poem of mine from my book, Light the Way. Since orange is an autumn hue, I’m also adding it to my blog’s décor. The poem started out as a list poem that had nothing to do with the holidays, but everything to do with color. While listing all things orange it was a happy coincidence that I remembered one town I grew up in, Orange, California. My family lived there in the 60s, and since orange was a trendy color then I was all set.

Originally, the whole collection was to have a color theme, but midway through I changed direction and added more topics.

Oh, Orange

When the orange
explosion happened
in the 60’s
I lived in Orange, California

Out back
our apartment building
an orange grove
Row upon row
of forbidden fruit
Intoxicating perfume

Inside, our couch cushions
the color of grimy pennies
clashed with shag carpeting
a shade of squashed Cheetos

In the kitchen
Mom spooned instant coffee
from an orange Sanka jar
I squirted Cheese Whiz
on to Ritz Crackers
Sister slathered
fake tanning cream
tinting her skin copper

It seemed the astronauts
dumped Tang
all over our terracotta town
while rocketing to the moon