Paint yourself a picture
of soft glowing
orange ambers
remaining from fires 
long ago, 
imagine
stories maybe thousands of them told
shaded 
In hues  of
indigo
about natives and their
perilous flight
frightened 
captured 
and enslaved
the color is now
night.

The coals still smolder
Out of which will
Arise
A fire
If you blow it
A flaming, raging red
A people, scattered
peeled to and fro
Asking for peace to be
Placed in our hearts
The color of which
The feeling is soft fallen snow

And so to this occasion
From the muddy pit of gray mire 
We emerge from all bitterness, 
jealousy and hate
As we become new creatures
Without shape without form
As we relearn to paint
Planting the seeds in our minds
The shade of the rainbow
The color of love
For all mankind