Blue

My first memory of blue was 

the blueprint of my father's palm

on my mother's milk-white cheek

It was the structure 

on which their marriage was built

Abuse

 

Art class taught me

Primary colours add up to make secondary colours

But I never knew a black belt, 

brown skin

and red blood could paint

navy blue clots 

all over my brother's back

Not a patch of brown canvas visible

 

Half my life

Instructed to be more pink than blue

Because 

respect

privilege 

honour

power 

is for blue

 

understanding

compromising

coyness

feminine 

is for pink

 

Forced to be pink 

I couldn't help 

but be blue

 

But blue is only attractive 

When it is, the colour of a woman's eye

Not her thoughts

I carry a heart

dyed black and blue 

blue is pain

But it is also my favourite colour

Because it is 

Parachute oil and granny’s head massage

It is the colour which my eyes perceive 

when they see the sky

It is colour of the house Ravenclaw

It is my Patronus

Because 

it is the colour of ink