Life Outside The Lines

Color in the lines, stay within the shapes.

A paint by number life in which the sun is always yellow,

And the sea and sky mirror blue.

I walked that tightrope, and followed the rules.

Constantly teetering on the edge, fearful of falling off.

I jumped instead….

Into purple suns and lipstick- kissed skies.

Warmth embraced me as I pondered my fate.

How much had I missed while I stoked endless fires of perfection,

Focused on straight edges and dark boundaries

Rather than possibilities. What can they do to me?

Those purveyors of control, while they measure and study lines,

I spill over, creating something new:

Bold patterns and textures, frenzied blending and blurring.

This is living.  This is life outside the lines, 

Tearing down the walls, jumping out of the box.

I would do it all again—

Coloring outside the lines.

gael b hogan