Fifty shades of yellow OR, I am curious (gray)

Pale yellow, the bog creature emerges from his hiding and approaches.

1. Pale yellow, the bog creature emerges from hiding and approaches.

Whip-like tendrils of grass glow yellow, stroking the gray earth.

2. Whip-like tendrils of grass glow yellow, stroking the gray earth.

A golden glow has taken over the landscape. This is an autumn of intense color—hot pink, burning red, neon chartreuse—but dominating them all are the yellows. Leaves, apples, grass, I saw yellow everywhere I turned.

I saw fifty, no, a thousand shades of yellow. I recalled a best seller with a similar title. I had never read it, and still have not, but skimmed enough to create captions for my fifty shades. I am not in favor of book burning, but I’d gladly toss Fifty Shades of Gray into my nightly bonfire, and give it the gift of giving yellow light. Won’t happen though, the library might not approve.

Soft lemon-colored leaves beckon. "Reach, leave your safety, reach and touch me."

3. Soft lemon-colored leaves beckon. “Reach, leave your safety, reach and touch me.”

 

Needles, golden needles, kiss the painted yellow asphalt.

4. Needles, golden needles, kiss the painted yellow asphalt.

 

Fifty shades of gray form a backdrop for fifty shades of yellow aspen leaves.

5. Fifty shades of gray form a backdrop for fifty shades of yellow aspen leaves.

A mellow yellow.

6. A mellow yellow.

 

A single, pure leaf floats to rest on the gray bark of a birch. The landing did not hurt.

7. A single, pure leaf floats to rest on the gray bark of a birch. The landing did not hurt.

 

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8. Soft round yellow apples laugh at the rigid gray rocks.They will move, melt. The rocks are going nowhere.

Smokey promises is it safe.

9. Smokey has a yellow hat, and promises it is safe. He always warns if there is danger.

 

Cages, traps, constraints, once you enter, there is no going back.

10. Cages, traps, constraints, once you enter, there is no going back.

Sunlight gleams, what was green is yellow, age has beauty and life, too.

11. Sunlight gleams, what was green is yellow, age has beauty and life, too.

Yellow globes crowd, no privacy here.

12. Yellow globes crowd, no privacy here.

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13. Christian says to Anastasia, “It’s perfectly natural.” I prefer this natural perfectionl

 

Yellows, tans, and browns get bound up in knotweed.

14. Yellows, tans, and browns get bound up in knotweed.

Yellow mail box. I am curious, why?

15. Yellow mail box. I am curious, why?

Are fast children a different color?

16. Are fast children a different color?

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17. Curb your appetite here.

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18. Sumac can be yellow, but Christian’s contracts do not allow suing.

 

A golden-yellow geranium leaf  dances to a different drum.

19. A golden-yellow geranium leaf dances to a different drum.

 

Nannas! Don't eat the skin.

20. Nannas! Don’t eat the skin.

 

Yellow yellow yellow, best yellow fall ever.

21. Yellow yellow yellow, best yellow fall ever.

Seeds give rise to fruit. yellow fruit.

22. Seeds give rise to fruit. Yellow fruit.

"What's a spreader bar?"

23. “What’s a spreader bar?”

 

Just lie on your back and look up.

24. Just lie on your back and look up.

Float away  on yellow dreams

25. HALFWAY. Float away on yellow dreams

Yellow polypores thrust out boldly.

26. Yellow polypores thrust out boldly.

Wet. And yellow.

27. Wet. And yellow.

Yellow meets gray, again.

28. Yellow meets gray, again.

 

28.  More than halfway to 50 shades of yellow. With no pain.

29. More than halfway to 50 shades of yellow. With no pain. Hackamatac, Tamarack, Larch.

Yellow rockweed wraps and binds around stones and barnacles

30. Yellow rockweed wraps and binds around stones and barnacles

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31. Yellow is the new orange.

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32. Yellow in the foreground, scary in the background.

 

I see yellow in the future.

33. I see yellow in the future.

34. Yellow is dominant.

34. Yellow is dominant.

35. Sweet yellow for a change.

35. Sweet yellow for a change.

36. Uncurious fruit.

36. Uncurious fruit.

36. More yellow, nicer than gray.

37. More yellow, nicer than gray.

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38. Yellow stalks gray.

Not all yellow is natural.

39. Not all yellow is natural.

 

Safety is most important. Especially yellow life preservers.

40. Safety is most important. Especially yellow life preservers.

If you use rope, yellow rope is best.

41. If you use rope, yellow rope is best.

42. Any yellow letter should be proud. Who wants to be blue?

42. Any yellow letter should be proud. Who wants to be blue?

43. There are places Anastasia does not want to go. Lane closed.

43. There are places Anastasia does not want to go. Lane closed.

44. Natural never gets old

44. Natural never gets old.

 

45. Lost in bus.

45. Lost in bus.

46. Yes, don't want to know. Keep it private.

46. Yes, don’t want to know. Keep it private.

47. Boots required, heels preferred.

47. Boots required, heels preferred.

48. Maine, even our plates are 50 shades of yellow.

48. Maine, even our plates are 50 shades of yellow.

49. best yellow ever. But be bold, not yellow.

49. Best yellow ever. But be bold, not yellow.

Be curious, gray or yellow, six, sixteen or sixty.

50. Be curious at six, sixteen or sixty. And wear yellow. Or gray.

Karen O. Zimmermann

About Karen O. Zimmermann

Karen O. Zimmermann savors chance encounters with people throughout the state of Maine, and is endlessly delighted with the tales they have to share.