It was black and white

for a while

 

Until the first line

was drawn

 

Then the pale grey people

the people who could only draw

a black cross

in a white box

began to sense

other possibilities

shading the palette

 

The colours of debate

splashed clumsily

over everything:

the harsh red of anger

the yellow of injustice

screaming crimson

a harsh royal blue

weeping vermillion

splashed all over

pale greens and blues

 

As they spread

                it was clear:

                on this canvas

no artist held soft brushes,

mixed subtle shades -

over everything

there were only black lines

smudged with her finger

to soften their edges

 

The grey people

had won their grey

reward