Blue (in 55)
Blue
Blue, I think in cobalt.
Cerulean smiles. Prussian, well, takes charge.
But cobalt colors waves’ sink, glass pretending darkness
will save it from break, the near-night sky,
I do not know
how the footfalls of approaching night
are found in rock salt, sindered.
Only that, when sky fixes
in the buried, oceans are
unearthed.
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Cobalt is a wonderful deep blue made of salts of alumina, sindered, meaning heated very hot. It is used in making pigments, but also for a deep blue glass, and the blues in Chinese porcelain. Cerulean and Prussian are other blues–55 packed into one for the G-man--also for Sam Peralta of dVerse Poets Pub.
Tags: Blue poem, Cobalt poem, feeling low and tired poem, Friday Flash 55, manicddaily
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ManicDDaily 
December 7, 2013 at 2:54 am
the blues have some of the most magnificent names. in this poem, I especially enjoy the oceans that rise at the end. I wonder where the phrase “feeling blue” comes from. I feel wonderful studying blue, unless it is some kind of funky mold or lips that have gone blue. here, where you site skies and oceans I feel exhilarated. well done in 55 brief ones.
December 7, 2013 at 8:24 am
Ahhh, is this the reason blue in all its magestic shades is my favorite color? This is a nice read, as always from you. In particular, “I do not know how the footfalls of approaching night
are found in rock salt, sindered.” Love love love the footfalls of approaching night.
December 7, 2013 at 8:40 am
You know–this poem went through many iterations and I am not sure I got the best one. The earlier ones emphasized that image much more–really focused on it, and I kind of liked it. (My husband found it confusing so I just got irritated with him and changed it!) I may post one of the others as a separate poem–as it was very hard to clarify what I was trying to get at within the 55 word limitation. Thanks, Yvonne. k.
December 7, 2013 at 9:06 am
I was thinking this morning of how blue the light was just at dawn(twilight’s good twin), especially on the ice and snow we have–I also like the tension of darkness coming in blue footfalls, and the inescapable associations in ‘sindered’–cobalt is an evocative word, and you evoke with it well here, k. My favorite are the last lines and that image of an unleashed ocean blueness hiding in the earth beneath us. Good to see you posting.
December 7, 2013 at 9:58 am
Thanks. Hope your monitor comes soon or the old one flickers on. K.
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December 7, 2013 at 10:14 am
I love cobalt blue.. There’s a certain pureness that make me full of joy, I also find that colors have such poetic names.. I love to use them over and over. Well used 55 words..
December 7, 2013 at 10:20 am
They are beautiful words. My favorites in terms of words are actually cerulean and indigo. Ha.
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December 7, 2013 at 10:30 am
If it’s not blue colours I’m a little bit fond of crimson and tangerine— actually both as colours and names…
December 7, 2013 at 10:38 am
“cobalt colors waves’ sink” Yes! you found the depths in idioms of oil paint to unearth oceans, and I found them in my heart.
December 7, 2013 at 10:58 am
Thanks, Susan. K.
December 7, 2013 at 11:46 am
tight little verse….the waves, glass breaking..
but those last couple lines as well…the sky fixed, oceans unearthed…
oo i like tangerine as well bjorn…and solar
December 7, 2013 at 12:50 pm
ah very cool…. that played right into my basket with my color studies at the moment… cobalt blue is a wonderful blue indeed…and thinking that blue was the color of kings cause it was so terribly expensive in earlier times… one of my favs is indigo blue as well
December 7, 2013 at 3:09 pm
Yes, me too. Indigo is especially cool as a watercolor. k.
December 7, 2013 at 1:08 pm
Wowzers! you knocked this one out of the park!
December 7, 2013 at 5:11 pm
Thank you so much, Sherry. k.
December 9, 2013 at 12:02 pm
Karin…
I’m never blue when I see that you have played.
I just love your creative mind and your artistic expression.
I loved your Bluesy 55
Thanks for playing and sharing, you can be as late as you like
Have a Kick Ass Week…G
December 12, 2013 at 6:15 pm
“Prussian, well, takes charge.” love that! the whole poem is an enjoyable study of blue!
December 15, 2013 at 4:00 pm
k, i am learning from you…tight is the right word, so is tense..as if you had to let out those exact words from your gut..you and Hedge and Jane and Claudia and a few others’ works are my role models..and I would hope you might be one of the new coaches (as someone suggested) in the future….Happy Holidays
December 15, 2013 at 4:09 pm
Ha. Well, thanks so much. That is very nice company to be in–you included! Thanks for your kind words and have a good holiday as well. K.