Every Poet Thinks He Owns The Colour Red

every poet thinks he owns the colour red
and bread and butter, sky and sea
grass and the trees

the way the wind blows through
in any language
and so they are startled to see

all words they love in anyone else's poem.
though each note sounds when played
a different way

but it is hard on them
to get the feeling back
they only own the alphabet.

mary angela douglas 3 july 2019