Shy Violet

Shy Violet was quiet,

more thoughtful than active.

Pale in appearance, her colorful side hidden to most,

The morning sun would show her loveliness

To those privileged to be allowed near.

Shy Violet had

Rainbows on the walls of her small room.

Only those who woke early enough

could enjoy an acquaintance with the inner beauty of

Shy Violet.

When I moved into my final dorm room my senior year in college, I found a small handwritten note in the desk that said "This room painted in Shy Violet." The walls appeared white except in the day time sun, when the violet shade would deepen. This was strongest around noon in winter when the sun would shine through the leafless branches of the trees on the riverbank outside my window. Midday was the only time that my hanging crystal would get enough sun to make rainbows on the light purple walls.