Orange is a defiant sunset,

burning the clouds like kindling

It is a wildfire, raging on

deep into the night, the stars in the sky

illuminated by its passionate tirade

It is a soft summer sun,

smiling down on green grassy subjects

Orange is a bonfire,

a crowd on a beach,

small, shy sparks dancing with fireflies

Explosions of man-made stars in the sky,

‘oohs’ and ‘ahs’ of the people gathered

to celebrate freedom

Orange is the stoplight you’re confused by

because some color-blind person told you it was yellow

Orange is a fake tan

an oompa loompa

or the fruit that is the color and the name

Orange is a sleepy sky,

a look out the darkening window

a kiss goodnight

Orange is the expression of

a bold personality

Something that says

“Here I am!”

in hide and seek

the color that never fails to be

the decorations on an autumn tree

It’s the crackle, crackle beneath your feet

the color of fall in a quiet street

It’s the color of warm days growing cold,

a sad goodbye before the winter

Orange is the streetlights

lined up like soldiers

to light up a dark night,

the color that’s there to keep you safe

on your long walk home

Orange is Japanese lanterns,

swinging softly,

eyes twinkling, reflected on

a familiar lake

It’s city light looking up at you,

slowly falling asleep,

disappearing like small sunbeam stars

caught with little hands

Orange is for fairies,

that dance just out of reach

of small, smiling children,

the fairies that all of us become blind to

eventually

Orange is a glittering childhood remembered,

a summer evening spent on the porch swing,

holding those you love the most

and smiling in hope as another day goes by

Orange is the color of a highlighter,

that marks all the good days in life,

giving you something to be proud about

when you finally leave this world.