Self-Portrait with Blue

Posted on October 10, 2015 by robert okaji

Self-Portrait with Blue

Darker shades contain black or grey. I claim
the median and the shortened spectrum, near dawn’s terminus.

In many languages, one word describes both blue and green.

Homer had no word for it.

The color of moonlight and bruises, of melancholy and unmet
expectation, it cools and calms, and slows the heart.

Woad. Indigo. Azurite. Lapis lazuli. Dyes. Minerals. Words. Alchemy.

On this clear day I stretch my body on the pond’s surface and submerge.

Not quite of earth, blue protects the dead against evil in the afterlife,
and offers the living solace through flatted notes and blurred 7ths.

Blue eyes contain no blue pigment.

In China, it is associated with torment. In Turkey, with mourning.

Between despair and clarity, reflection and detachment,
admit the leaves and sky, the ocean, the earth.

Water captures the red, but reflects and scatters blue.

Look to me and absorb, and absorbing, perceive.

This originally appeared in the Silver Birch Press Self-Portrait Series, and is included in The Circumference of Other, my offering in the Silver Birch Press chapbook collection, IDES, scheduled to be published on October 15.

47 thoughts on “Self-Portrait with Blue”

Nurse Kelly on October 10, 2015 at 9:42 am said:

Just remarkably beautiful. I even have blue eyes! I look forward to owning that collection!

LikeLiked by 2 people

Reply ↓
- robert okaji on October 10, 2015 at 12:40 pm said:
  
  Thanks very much, Kelly.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply ↓
  - Nurse Kelly on October 10, 2015 at 12:45 pm said:
    
    Very welcome, Robert
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
    
    Reply ↓
Elusive Trope on October 10, 2015 at 12:24 pm said:

Superbly splendid. The meshing between facts and expression flawless in your flow.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply ↓
- robert okaji on October 10, 2015 at 12:41 pm said:
  
  Thank you. I learn so much from writing!
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply ↓
  - Susi Lovell on October 11, 2015 at 8:35 pm said:
    
    And I learn so many intriguing things from your poems!
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
    
    Reply ↓
Malena on October 10, 2015 at 12:53 pm said:

Interesting! Thank you for sharing.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply ↓
- robert okaji on October 10, 2015 at 9:25 pm said:
  
  I’m pleased you found it so. Thanks for reading.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply ↓
  - Malena on October 11, 2015 at 12:01 am said:
    
    Have you heard of the evil eye? Wearing blue protects from words of envy.
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
    
    Reply ↓
  - robert okaji on October 11, 2015 at 8:02 am said:
    
    I had not heard of that connection. Thank you!
    
    LikeLike
    
    Reply ↓
familyrulesbyplainjane on October 10, 2015 at 7:24 pm said:

This is so clever. I also love the feeling it gives me. I sometimes spend time trying to take apart a poem and understand it deeply but since a I am not reading academically, I tell myself it is ok to read for what it does for me. (That also makes me feel better about myself when I just cannot understand!) This pinged my enjoyment meter. Plus I learned the word woad, which tickles me. Also a feeling thing. What in the world do you read, and how long does it take, to develop such a repository of words and references?! Impressed.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply ↓
- robert okaji on October 10, 2015 at 9:22 pm said:
  
  I’m glad you like this one. A poem like this is truly meant to be read for what it does for/to you. What matters most to me, as both poet and reader, is resonance, not meaning. I have many enthusiasms, and am naturally curious, and thus I read a little of this, a little of that. Occasionally I’ll delve a little more deeply into a subject, but I’m always finding different threads that pull me away from the original area and into different directions.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply ↓
  - familyrulesbyplainjane on October 10, 2015 at 9:23 pm said:
    
    Very nice!
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
    
    Reply ↓
familyrulesbyplainjane on October 10, 2015 at 8:14 pm said:

P.S. Odd synchronicity–I have been working on a post which makes reference to a prism. Can’t seem to get it to where I want it but will probably post it soon anyway.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply ↓
- robert okaji on October 10, 2015 at 9:24 pm said:
  
  I can’t wait to read this!
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply ↓
  - familyrulesbyplainjane on October 10, 2015 at 9:24 pm said:
    
    It is an odd one. Not sure if I like it or not.
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
    
    Reply ↓
  - robert okaji on October 10, 2015 at 9:26 pm said:
    
    Now I’m intrigued.
    
    LikeLike
    
    Reply ↓
A Former Prison Librarian on October 10, 2015 at 9:08 pm said:

Beautiful. Both your words and the color.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply ↓
- robert okaji on October 10, 2015 at 9:25 pm said:
  
  You are, as always, very kind. Thank you. And I agree – blue is beautiful.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
jeanixAngel on October 10, 2015 at 10:38 pm said:

clever reflection.. 🙂 . thank you for sharing…

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply ↓
- robert okaji on October 11, 2015 at 7:43 am said:
  
  Thank you.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply ↓
finnegandaley on October 10, 2015 at 11:50 pm said:

Your poetry is like murmurs heard by a child drifting to sleep while the grownups talk in the other room. One sense when first heard, another the next day upon waking.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply ↓
- robert okaji on October 11, 2015 at 7:54 am said:
  
  Which almost describes the way I write these things – just trying to catch the lines as they fly past… 🙂
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
huzaifazoom on October 10, 2015 at 11:51 pm said:

The sense of discovery in your poems is palpable; in this one especially so. Have enjoyed your poems for a while now. Time to say thanks 🙂

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply ↓
- robert okaji on October 11, 2015 at 7:56 am said:
  
  You are very welcome, and I am grateful that you find the time to read my work.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply ↓
Soul Gifts on October 11, 2015 at 7:23 am said:

Love your work. Thanks for popping by my blog 🙂

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply ↓
- robert okaji on October 11, 2015 at 7:59 am said:
  
  Thanks very much. I enjoy your blog, and particularly liked the tale of Beavis and Butthead, the sheep.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply ↓
  - Soul Gifts on October 31, 2015 at 9:09 pm said:
    
    I just found a quicker and more efficient way of managing comments, lol! Better late than never 🙂
    
    LikeLike
    
    Reply ↓
ericamilesx on October 11, 2015 at 10:22 am said:

Very nicely done, rhythmic and musical, not to mention your reference to various tones of color: so many shades of blue. Also loved the symbolism.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply ↓
- robert okaji on October 11, 2015 at 10:25 am said:
  
  Thank you. Not everything is black and white. 🙂
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
Mary Tang on October 11, 2015 at 4:14 pm said:

It’s always a pleasure to sit with your work a while to appreciate the sound of it, the sense of it and the feelings it evokes. I should devote more time to poetry – time, that rare commodity! I want to say that I have enjoyed translating your work into Chinese and look forward to doing more in the future.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply ↓
- Mary Tang on October 11, 2015 at 4:16 pm said:
  
  By the way, 青 is Chinese for blue, and green
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply ↓
  - robert okaji on October 12, 2015 at 8:52 am said:
    
    For blue and green! So context is ever important.
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
    
    Reply ↓
    - Mary Tang on October 12, 2015 at 4:44 pm said:
      
      Oh yes. 青天 is blue sky and 青草 is green grass. Not so hard to figure out 🙂
      
      LikeLike
      
      Reply ↓
- robert okaji on October 12, 2015 at 8:51 am said:
  
  Thank you, Mary. This is the type of poem I enjoy writing the most, but it also consumes the most time, as I explore different threads to find compatible parts, and am easily distracted. 🙂 Yes, time! There’s never enough. I’ve so enjoyed listening to your recordings, and am honored that you’ve translated my poetry.
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply ↓
  - Mary Tang on October 12, 2015 at 4:45 pm said:
    
    Thanks, Robert. We appreciate the attention you apply to your writing.
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
    
    Reply ↓
Carrie Birde on October 12, 2015 at 12:30 pm said:

Lovely. Blue is my mother’s color — and suits her beautifully. For years, when I was a child, she dressed me in blue, as well; and I persisted in the habit into adulthood until I realized…blue is not my color…My colors are green and gold and earth. My colors are Autumn. 🙂

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply ↓
- robert okaji on October 12, 2015 at 3:27 pm said:
  
  Thank you. I seem to gravitate towards the cooler end – blues, grays.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
magicpoet01 on October 13, 2015 at 7:18 pm said:

Dear Robert, Love this poem. Would love to review the book. Please contact me:magicpoet01@gmail.com for postal address, if you are interested. kindest regards Maggie

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply ↓
- robert okaji on October 13, 2015 at 8:53 pm said:
  
  Thank you, Maggie. I’ve emailed you.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
The Story in the Frame on October 14, 2015 at 8:34 am said:

“Water captures the red, but reflects and scatters blue.” – I love when you take something so literal and concrete and turn it on its head to make it poetic, raising it above simple, tangible fact.

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply ↓
- robert okaji on October 14, 2015 at 12:49 pm said:
  
  Thank you. Poetry is everywhere!
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply ↓
Jilanne Hoffmann on October 14, 2015 at 3:43 pm said:

Website doesn’t show as available—yet…..

LikeLiked by 1 person

Reply ↓
- robert okaji on October 14, 2015 at 4:05 pm said:
  
  I hope it shows up in the next few days. There’s sometimes a “disconnect” between Amazon and small publishers.
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply ↓
  - Jilanne Hoffmann on October 14, 2015 at 4:56 pm said:
    
    I’ll keep checking. Thanks!
    
    LikeLiked by 1 person
    
    Reply ↓
  - robert okaji on October 14, 2015 at 6:06 pm said:
    
    As will I!
    
    LikeLike
    
    Reply ↓
Pingback: Hot Reads & Other Things | Zouxzoux