The Color Wheel

The Color Wheel

a red lawn mower’s
yellowed plastic handle
with red-tipped power switch
shivers under my
callused dirt-covered hands
torn and ragged tan nails
tobacco-stained fingertips
matching the plastic handle.

push slowly past the 20-foot willow
yellow branches caressing faded blue overalls
past peeling gray garage door
rusted-out red swing set
a brown rotting wood fence
bordered by new-cut green grass

i lift a hand to move aside
sweat and grass clippings
wiping a rough wrist over
violet eyes