Without black, no color has any depth. But if you mix black with everything, suddenly there's shadow - no, not just shadow, but fullness. You've got to be willing to mix black into your palette if you want to create something that's real.
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Shades of Grey
Black is the color of the night
Grey is the shadow of you I sight
White is the shirt you wear
Black is your suit I declare
White is the wall you lean against
Grey is our path I sensed
Black is the memory I lost
Black is the road we never crossed
Grey is the prospect of the day
Grey is the taxi driving away
Black is the truth to never find you
Black is everything I can't undo
Black is my room without light
White is my color of hope in spite
Grey is the circle around my heart
Black is the truth like a work of art
© 2011
poem by Kristina Louisa Carr
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Not Like Any Other Color
This is no joke
This is no egg-yoke
Black is not like any other color
Black has its unique beauty
Its own charm and splendor
It is the color of the reality
It is the absence of the sun
It is the exile of the moon
Black is the last color
That we will see before crossing the border.
Black can be positive
Or negative
Depending on someone’s perception
Interest or observation
Because of ignorance
And lack of experience
Many neophytes unfortunately use that color
As a scapegoat, as a traitor
Who can stab in the groin or in the back
Charcoal is black, coffee is black.
At times, it may not be apparent
Black is beautiful and different
It is the color of the night
It is the absence of light
It is the last color
That we will see before crossing the border
Where no color exists afterwards
Where there are no sounds, no words
No opinions, no aroma and no prejudice
There live absolute serenity and peace.
poem by Hebert Logerie
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Conviction (III)
The shadow was so black,
I thought it was a cat,
But once in to it
I knew it
No more black
Than a shadow's back.
Illusion is a freak
Of mind;
The cat's to seek.
poem by Stevie Smith
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Shadowy nocturne
It is midsummer,
and the nights are hot.
Black horse is strolling along the lake,
trying to delve into another world.
Black horse is rather sad tonight,
the white horse is not following behind,
no one chats with it,
no one plays with it,
only its shadow follows it.
It stops.
looking at the lake quietly.
The moon,
falling on water,
makes it white, inscrutable,
giving the shadow a burnish and a silver plating.
The black horse,
it can not spend its life chasing after shadow,
no matter it is an anguish or elation,
it must have a brave act,
telling the white horse what you feel.
(17th of August,2004)
poem by Trino Chan
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The Red Man with the Black Shadow
The Red Man with the Black Shadow
by Alex Lewis
The Red Man wore a black shadow.
As he grew high, he sunk low.
The Red Man is not a man at all.
He is as short as he is tall.
An elephant is the Red Man.
It is less than greater than.
The elephant is mad because he is tame.
The Red Man is gone, but the shadow will remain.
poem by Alex Lewis
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Color Me Blind
I had a dream,
Last night I was blind
And I couldnt see
Color of any kind
Picture the world,
Minus a rainbow
When day becomes night,
Then where will the sun go
Dancing alone,
Just me and my shadow
Color me blind,
So I can see no evil
Why do we dream,
In black and white?
Color me blind
Why do we dream
In black and white?
Color me blind
I had a dream,
I was looking, over the mountain
But ive, Ive yet to see the,
The so-called promised land
Picture the world,
Without any color
You couldnt tell,
One face from the other
I dont understand
Why we fight with our brother
Color me blind
Just to love one another
Color me, color you,
Color me blind
song performed by by Extreme
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Black Dog
A black dog follows me,
No collar nor a lead,
Its form I can not measure,
Of undetermined breed.
A black dog followed me,
My step a merry gait,
Then it left me quite alone,
I pondered not its fate.
A black dog followed me
It disappeared a while
But it did return again
When I had gone a mile.
A black dog follows me,
My companion I'll ignore,
My tread a steady onward march,
My eyes fixed to the fore.
A black dog follows me,
It matters not what pace.
My steps are clear upon the path,
Its paws, they leave no trace.
A black dog follows me,
No others on the road.
No muse, companion, mentor, friend,
I've none to share my load.
A black dog follows me,
Like a shadow by my side.
Storm clouds dim my path.
But it will not be my guide.
A black dog follows me,
Nipping at my heel.
Anxiety eats me from within.
I question what is real.
A black dog follows me,
No interest in my tears.
With hollow smile it follows me
And catalogues my fears.
A black dog follows me.
Steeper grows the grade.
My resolution falters,
My strength begins to fade.
A black dog follows me,
Though it will not choose my end.
I set my face into the wind,
My sanity defend.
A black dog follows me.
I know I must resist.
I will not, must not, yield to him
I know I must persist
A black dog follows me.
Before me is my goal.
Silent prayers I send above,
My Lord to keep me whole
A black dog follows me.
And though the road does rise,
Onwards I intend to go'
Until I reach the prize.
2012
poem by Greg Davidson
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Shadow of a Black Dog
'I have walked across the shadow of a black dog.
Alas! What would happen to me? ' saying it,
he started crying loudly.
I asked, 'What's the problem then? '
He said, 'I may cost my life for it.'
Listening to his cry, the black dog came back.
The man said to him, 'O dog,
I have crossed your shadow today.
What would happen to me? '
The dog replied, weeping, 'Brother,
sorry, I don't know it at all.'
poem by Sayeed Abubakar
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Black Shadow
Across one sunny day
The history of the lazy black shadow
Was veiled by her color,
In the darkness of the night
She radiated subtly
Throughout my window.
Few keystrokes and I was hooked,
Revealing her enigma
Behind my bright screen,
Looking desperately for the key
That will delet the dawn.
The further I explored her history
My system begun to freeze,
I started feeling out of my depth
Until I forgot my memory
And why I am here.
My mind told me, go offline
But I couldn’t escape and leave
My captured heart behind,
I tried to win it back without grieve
I failed jumbling with words
Yet, I kept fighting night by night
Her blackened history
To free my lonely heart,
But all my selfish battles
Brought me no victory.
Across one sunny day
The lazy black shadow
Has gone.
Yahya Adada
poem by Yahya Adada
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Black On Black II
Daddy's little soldier boy
Mama's little pride and joy
Both hands on her apron strings
"Don't you touch that dirty thing"
A warning signal from above
Inspection with a clean white glove
They say that opposites attract like right and wrong
Black on black
Like pleasure and a little pain
The sacred and profane
Ice and fire counteract like black on black
The oldest story known to man
The willing sacrificial lamb
Behind the light a shadow falls
The code of silence shakes the walls
A whisper to a silent scream
The power is so frightening
They say that opposites attract like right and wrong
Black on black
Like pleasure and a little pain
The sacred and profane
Ice and fire counteract just like black on black
A warning signal from above
Inspection with a clean white glove
They say that opposites attract like right and wrong
Black on black
Some things seem so sacred
Like a loaded question the power of suggestion
Like the face of danger the kindness of a stranger
Like a Judas Kiss like pleasure and a little pain
I'mmaculate seduction absolute corruption
Ice and fire counteract no turning back like black on black
Black on black.
Black on black
Like pleasure and a little pain
The sacred and profane
Ice and fire counteract like black on black
Like pleasure and a little pain
The sacred and profane
Ice and fire counteract just like black on black
Black
A little pain
Just like black on black
Black
Black on black
Black on black
Black on black
song performed by by Heart from Desire Walks On
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Hello Shadows
Shadows imitate every thing in life
But it does not argue, fuss, or fight
And can be changed by the reflection of light
Your shadow will imitate everything that you do
For that shadow belongs to you.
The shadow of an object can
hide you from the sun
Not just you but every one.
Shadows have but one color (black)
And it is not belittled or put down
But accepted by all you see
Which makes it one of gods mysteries.
It can be seen in the sunlight
But not in the dark
It can even be seen with artificial light
And the kids have fun with it
Man! What a sight.
It has no face to show emotions
And it will always be by your side
Although at times it must hide.
The sun can not touch it, as it stares up at you
This is something the sun can not do.
The shadow will walk in front of you
Or in back, or walk on your sides
But will always be there wherever you go
For it is something that we all know
And to my shadow I say “hello”.
poem by Louis Rams
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Black Lace
Black Lace,
In the shadow of a day.
You're wrong,
So wrong.
I can't even explain,
Can't think to describe,
How sick.
How hurtful.
How utterly opposite your accusations are.
I've lost your trust?
Well you've lost my hope.
No wonder isolation comes to mind.
Hint,
Hint,
Do you catch my drift?
My day is a shadow,
When you accuse of Black Lace.
There's no obvious remorse.
Like maybe you like to accuse,
Like maybe I like isolation.
Like Black Lace,
In the shadow of a day.
You're wrong,
So wrong,
Can't even think to explain.
A Shadow
you are not alone
for i am a shadow and i always follow you
wherever you may go,
you shake me off?
no you can't. I am your shadow.
you want to be left alone?
you shove me away, no you can't.
i am a part of you. i reflect you. I am your shadow.
you feel forsaken?
you dislike me? You plan your escape.
You stand at noontime. No you can't take me away.
I am diminished. When the sun comes as your ally,
I am equal to you, under you and still a part of you.
You cannot take me away. I am your shadow.
You shed tears. I have the shadow of tears.
You bleed blood. I have the shadow of blood bleeding.
You cannot take me away from you. I am a part of you. I am your shadow.
You regret life? You want to end all these? You hate me?
Plan your next step. Vanish me. Kill me.
Use your black magic. Take me away from you. No you can't.
I am always a part of you. I am your shadow.
I ask you to ask me if i like this way with us together.
I tell you. I want to shake you off from me. I am your shadow.
And i detest you. My body.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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Black And Red
Black and Red
The colours of dead
Black and Red
The colours of my bed.
Black and Red
swirling in my head
Black and Red
Killing my brov Ted.
BLACK AND RED
Black and Red
Colours that spread
Black and Red
The patterned thread.
Black and Red
The voices said
Black and Red
I Iove eating bread
Black and Red
My favourite colours till the end.
poem by Carniz Fatema
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Black+White=My Life
Black-
The color of my soul
White-
The color of my spirit
Together Black and White combined
It all equals my life
The 2 only colors
That are not really colors at all
The story of my life
I am alone
I die slowly and painfully
Not a care in the world
Where I would end up
If only I would survive...
Black-
The color of my Heart
White-
The color of my Hopes and Dreams
Together again Black and White reunite as one
As you can tell
The 2 only colors of my life are Black and White
As if you care
You rather see me suffer in vain
You keep heaeing me say I am alone
Well now you know its true
poem by Makayla Straight
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black RESPECT
Black shoes,
black suits,
black sandals
black you,
black specs,
black life,
black faces,
black casket dropped deep the dark grave,
Red ribbons,
red lights,
red flowers,
red wine.
Hearse sirens
wailing women,
Black speeches,
Blackened praises, all in all they call it the last respect
poem by Joub kahuria
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Follow Thy Fair Sun
Follow thy fair sun, unhappy shadow;
Though thou be black as night,
And she made all of light,
Yet follow thy fair sun, unhappy shadow.
Follow her, whose light thy light depriveth;
Though here thou liv'st disgrac'd,
And she in heaven is plac'd,
Yet follow her whose light the world reviveth.
Follow those pure beams, whose beauty burneth;
That so have scorched thee,
As thou still black must be,
Till her kind beams thy black to brightness turneth.
Follow her, while yet her glory shineth;
There comes a luckless night
That will dim all her light;
And this the black unhappy shade divineth.
Follow still, since so thy fates ordained;
The sun must have his shade,
Till both at once do fade,
The sun still proud, the shadow still disdained.
poem by Thomas Campion
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Follow Thy Fair Sun
1 Follow thy fair sun, unhappy shadow;
2 Though thou be black as night,
3 And she made all of light,
4 Yet follow thy fair sun, unhappy shadow.
5 Follow her, whose light thy light depriveth;
6 Though here thou liv'st disgrac'd,
7 And she in heaven is plac'd,
8 Yet follow her whose light the world reviveth.
9 Follow those pure beams, whose beauty burneth;
10 That so have scorched thee,
11 As thou still black must be,
12 Till her kind beams thy black to brightness turneth.
13 Follow her, while yet her glory shineth;
14 There comes a luckless night
15 That will dim all her light;
16 And this the black unhappy shade divineth.
17 Follow still, since so thy fates ordained;
18 The sun must have his shade,
19 Till both at once do fade,
20 The sun still proud, the shadow still disdained.
poem by Thomas Campion
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Shadow March
All around the house is the jet-black night;
It stares through the window-pane;
It crawls in the corners, hiding from the light,
And it moves with the moving flame.
Now my little heart goes a beating like a drum,
With the breath of the Bogies in my hair;
And all around the candle and the crooked shadows come,
And go marching along up the stair.
The shadow of the balusters, the shadow of the lamp,
The shadow of the child that goes to bed--
All the wicked shadows coming tramp, tramp, tramp,
With the black night overhead.
poem by Robert Louis Stevenson
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Red
There are three colores,
Each a meaning,
in its own,
a little more important,
Than the rest.
White is calm, white is blank,
white is pure and white is clean,
white is the color of doves,
white is the color of here and there,
white is pure.
Black is dark, black is full,
Black is absent and black is stained,
Black is the color of night,
Black is the color of life and death,
Black is dark.
There is one other to say,
The one that flows within,
This color is not white,
but it is pure,
this color is not black,
But it is dark,
This color is all,
It is calm, it is blank,
It is dark, it is full,
both pure and stained,
clean and absent,
it is life it is death,
it is here and it is there,
this is the color,
of everything,
It is red.
poem by Rebecca Adams
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