Brilliant Explosion

How I coveted those powder paints
of traffic-light red, yellow and green,
so bold I couldn’t keep my uniform clean.

I soaked a brush and conjured colour
on a sheet of unblemished white
that erupted in a rainbow.

But oh,
that brilliant cyan:
electric and full of promise.

I slipped a pot into my jacket;
secretly caressed it until home time
and held it tightly all the way to the school gate,

out of sight of my best mate.
But she spotted my bulging pocket,
tugged my fingers, pried them open;

the paint pot flew,
hit an overhanging branch
and exploded in a genie puff of blue.