I Will Also Accept Blue in Any Shade That it Comes: Corlene Van Sluizer

May 12, 2020 Kate Belew with Corlene Van Sluizer (Santa Rosa, California)

Oh cement, Oh, avenue, Oh wonderful sky

Drop the bird seeds

In the pavement’s cracks

and wait for some impossible growing   

to remind us 

of what can happen next. 

I always imagined 

green on my palette but 

I will also accept blue 

in any shade that it comes

Yes, Oh Wonderful sky

You hold the sun

like one holds a bundle of leaves 

each one with a name engraved in gold

and I am grateful, for lack of another word.