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Color Outside the Lines

You can do what you want to do

don’t color outside of the lines

You can be who you want to be

as long as you keep to yourself

 

Don’t color outside of the lines

and stay in your own little box

We live in a black and white world

with our colored imperfections

 

You can be what you want to be

as long as you play by their rules

Because no one really cares

until you color outside the lines

 

As long as you keep to yourself

they ignore the things they don’t see

You can say what you want to say

as long as nobody hears it

 

 

 

 

 

Author notes

Retourne Style

 

Like so many other French forms, the retourne is all about repetition. It contains four quatrains (four-line stanzas), and each line has eight syllables. The trick is that the first stanza's second line must also be the second stanza's first line, the first stanza's third line is the third stanza's first, and the first stanza's fourth line is the fourth stanza's first. Retournes do not have to rhyme.

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Comments

1 - 15 of 15

  • sleepingINblackRain
    November 6, 2007
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    Very unique, very true.


  • Desire gold member
    October 26, 2007

    Edit | Reply

    Wowzers!

    Powerful piece penned and just love how You approached this prompt

    Wonderfully woven~~
    Love that form too

    Thank You for sharing Your Talent!
    Keep that quill dancing

    Don’t color outside of the lines
    and stay in your own little box
    We live in a black and white world
    with our colored imperfections


    Best wishes to You in the contest
    Many blessings too
    and much love~ Desire~*~


  • El Pescador
    March 8, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    The beauty of this poem is two-fold. The format complies with the 'recipe' and the content encourages a second reading. The statement itself is profound and its impact is heightened by the repetition. Nicely done.


  • PerVirtuous
    March 1, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    OK. This speaks to me. I get this message loud and clear. If you give me permission to color outside the lines, the resulting lines will be on the sidewalk, the Taj Mahal, and even on the Washington Monument. It will say Allan loves Amera. So look for it.


  • JohnnyD gold member
    March 1, 2007

    Edit | Reply

    prism of truths

    "Be thou to yourself", No, I did not mean be true to your self, be thou to yourself. Be whom you wish to be. I know those very feelings all too well. I have oft been judged by people who do not know me nor have walked in my shoes. Some misjudge me for having quote;" 'far’ too many relationships’ when I was young", yet I felt I did no wrong but it turned out all of the ones I had been involved with, including the one marriage, were 'rescues' up until the age of 50. What I had thought was love up until that point was simply deep empathy. I learned from my mistakes and have made up for lost time...at least in my perspective....and, as someone recently said (, I do wear my heart on my sleeve but that's just to make up for lost time I suppose? LOL!
    Holding this poem to the light and looking at it through a prism I see many facets of myself. I also see many of yours.

    Great write Amera;

    Dad


  • Blazing White Wolf
    March 1, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    Society can be so restrictive, afraid of anything that is remotely different somee itself can't it? Again the form and construction of the poem is flawless it flows well down to the last word enjoyed the read

    love and light,
    Blaze


  • blueyez
    March 1, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    This is so true to society. I never did like to color outside the lines tho


  • March 1, 2007

    Edit | Reply

    The Paradox…

    When it comes to form and style I am very ridged – beyond normal. I am very literal and extreme. Yet when told to do things a certain way I am a rebel rouser.

    You can do what you want to do
    don’t color outside of the lines
    You can be who you want to be
    as long as you keep to yourself

    The question is to you read between the lines?

    The power of the English language is seen here in the paradox of the English language. You can say so much what out saying anything at all.

    People to tend to find the grey area in the world; it is comforting.

    99% of people DO play by the rules – that frustrates me.
    Once you take a risk in life; people want you to fail and look at the imperfections – in you – NOT in themselves.

    Freedom of speech…
    But no one needs to HEAR you.

    I want to be heard; I will more likely be killed for my thoughts;
    I am ready to fight; for what I know is right!

    “Don’t rock the boat”
    “That is not my job”
    “You are making us look bad”
    “Just to your job”

    Blah, Blah, Blah…

    I stand and fight!

    For I know what is right!

    Believe in yourself and your dreams!
    Color outside the lines…
    Expand the horizons of mankind!


  • Soulful Woman silver member
    February 28, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    A nice and easy poem, my friend..lol Makes me want to get my coloring books out..I really liked this because it was an easy read but said so much.
    Soulful Woman


    • Amera gold member
      February 28, 2007
      Edit | Reply
      Thanks, easy read because I have a simple mind.

1 - 15 of 15