Words, even ones cleverly picked and organized
could never describe a maple’s dying leaf.
Red, Portland orange, or even poppy give
only part of the story. Ivory, daffodil, lemon, canary,
gold, and chartreuse could provide more clues.
You might need saffron, mustard, or even amber but don’t forget
android green, apple green, and for irony, bud green.
Add sand, goldenrod, and a dark enough tan
to give painters a recipe for something
a child could tape to a south-facing window
to be animated by light.