True Colour

      amusement has 
some obvious value,

like when watching
   an active toddler.

      see him learning
colours and numbers
with obvious delight.

i showed him
      this torch ginger
photograph i made
   in a tropical place

on the edge of a jungle


what colour is that?
      i said, pointing
at an orange place.

he named orange, 
then green when i
   pointed at a leaf.

      then i touched
   something and
colour changed

as he watched.

he saw it happen
   and the colour
   of excitement

      is true colour.
he may have said,

if he had the words.