Plain Socks and Paints

Brigitte Goetze

If your life were like a Christmas
gift which you can’t ex-
change—how’d you respond?

Think of the plain socks you get
every year—you know you need them,
still, you asked for more imagination.

Now this surprise paint-
by-numbers kit—you hate having
to fill in somebody’s outline.

How can you share the joy
of your sister who proudly wears
the ring you have been coveting?

So, you pull up your new socks,
reverse the canvas and splash it
with colors found inside your heart.