Painter of sunrise and sunset… |
The day's faded beauty lingers in the sky Bold hues of purple and orange, inked across tall puffy clouds rising into the air, catching final sunbeams at their tippy tops. This cycle repeats day in and day out Sunrise and sunset melting like watercolors, An artist's touch from a magical castle in the sky Waking up and falling asleep set to the tones of a living painting Different each time, yet always the same. Young Melanie never knows what to expect In her tattered life there's little to trust Perhaps the only steady thing she has is the rise and fall of day and night. She climbs a hillside each afternoon to be alone And soaks up the sights of the sky's color show Shades of violet and peach, yellow, pure white and shell pink Melting and shifting from sunlight to shadow. This solitary solace means so much to her. Sunrise is the same; she throws open her curtains Sits up and spends the glorious moments in prayer As fresh sunlight washes the hillsides in lavender and gold Every leaf sparkling with crystal drops of dew Beauty unfolds even as her day's struggle begins, And gratitude for whatever comes her way Is Melanie's natural response to the charmed artistry. One morning, she arose before dawn as always Opened the curtains and awaited the colors But there were none. Light filtered from black to white and blue sky No lavender, peach or shell pink to be found. Sunrise as stark and bleak as the switch of a spotlight Where is the beauty in that? Melanie's heavy heart faltered as she did her chores Hours later she waited breathlessly on the hilltop for signs of color in the sunset horizon. Nothing at all: the sun's disk slid down And disappeared like a coin in a piggy bank, With light fading blankly from blue into black Where is the beauty in that? Running fast down the hill, she met a magical cat With silky fur of the softest lilac shades And eyes which glowed amethyst looking at her. "Dear magical cat, can you please tell me what has become Of the glorious colors of sunrise and sunset?" "My lady, Princess Violetta, is fallen sick and can no longer Paint the skies in watercolor every morning and night. Healing can be found in lavender fields, Softly scented herbs rooted in red clay soil." "I know where they grow! Come with me, dear Kitty," And away Melanie ran, with Kitty at her heels To rolling fields of flourishing lavender Growing in dusty striped rows along Tuscan hills. The sweet herbal scent rose up as she gathered them Filling her with calm and soothing thoughts. A basket full of the fuzzy gray stems would suffice. Kitty led her across woods and streams Down a cobbled path to a castle on a hill. A lady rested in a bedroom of many hues All different shades of purple: grape, violet, plum, Lilac, lavender and clematis, amethyst and iolite. Her eyes of deepest evening twilight Met Melanie's concern with a smile. "I am Violetta, Painter of Sunrise and Sunset. My favorite color surrounds me, as you can tell. I assure you the essence of Lavandula Angustifolia Which you so kindly brought to me Is enough to cure my illness so I can once more Color the beginning and end of each day Giving you the best of what you look forward to." Melanie prepared a lavender tea and sat down with Kitty. They spoke through the night about life and the arts And as the clock ticked towards dawn, Violetta arose, her tanzanite gown sweeping the floor, Approached her bay window facing east, Waving her arms with the grace of a conductor. Each color came slowly, melding and rising Lilac, pale peach, baby blue, with periwinkle lining cloud edges Orchid puffs slipped across the horizon To be gently replaced by clear yellow and pale rose Melting away into the golden light of morning Which sent beams into Violetta's lavender bedroom Lighting it up like a glowing crystalline geode. "It's time you went home, dear Melanie—take care Rest assured your sunset shall be a glory to behold Thanks to your love and concern, beauty shall once more Measure the days in colors warm and cool Lending optimism and hope to all who pause to appreciate it." And so sunrise and sunset were saved by a girl and a kitten And a Lady in Lavender watches over them both as she paints Morning and evening in colors so true. |