Only Blue Sky

He tried to convince me the sky was blue.

I saw too many colors flashing when I turned my face

To the sky away from him.

For many years I argued back

"No. It is not blue! Just look!

  Can't you see the spectrum of beauty before you?"

But he would not turn away from me to face the sky.

He would not call me beauty either.

I retreated at times convincing myself

Despite the white smoky moving masses of clouds

The sky could be only blue.

I created a belief and committed to it with all of me.

"Though he does not look he is not blind.

He will see the beauty he is missing."

The flickers of light were unrelentless.

Sitting at the mountaintop after a long walk to it

My legs were shaking

My eyes were weary

From time.

I pulled my knees

  Into my chest

And hugged them

At the resting rock.

The treetops of the mountain

Delivered me a gift of splendor.

Splashes of oranges and yellows

Spotted with reds and rich browns.

Colors that permeated from the treetops.

The setting sun cast green and purple hues

Filling empty spaces on the autumnal canvas

Reflecting in the shadows of the clouds.

I closed my eyes to breathe it in

As I heard him making his way to the rock.

In that moment I was surrendering to a desperate belief held too long.

I was choosing to walk away to run down the other side of the mountain.

If only my weakening legs would take me.

I went to pull myself up to a stand

With the courage to go.

From behind he pulled my shoulder down

Almost hurting my aching places.

Then I turned to see his face

Turned to the sky

Away from me.

And I stayed.