So Many Colors In The Rainbow

I'm not completely sure why I decided to make this post. Maybe it was because I said something a few days ago in my lecture (I teach grad school part time), and I overheard a student during one of the breaks tell the person next to him how much time and trouble what I shared will save him at work. That probably triggered a bunch of snap, crackles, and pops that eventually bubbled-up the memory of a song fom my subconscious.

The song is about...well, just read the words and you'll figure it out. It was written by Harry Chapin, a musician and poet, one of my favorite artists of all time, who died tragically in the 70's, well before his prime. He had a gift for taking real life situations and composing songs that captured both the situation and the emotions. He put this song to music, but I actually prefer the words alone. I won't tell you how it makes me feel...you'll know when you read it.

Flowers Are Red, by Harry Chapin

The little boy went first day of school
He got some crayons and started to draw
He put colors all over the paper
For colors was what he saw
And the teacher said.. What you doin' young man
I'm paintin' flowers he said
She said... It's not the time for art young man
And anyway flowers are green and red
There's a time for everything young man
And a way it should be done
You've got to show concern for everyone else
For you're not the only one

And she said...
Flowers are red young man
Green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than they way they always have been seen

But the little boy said...
There are so many colors in the rainbow
So many colors in the morning sun
So many colors in the flower and I see every one

Well the teacher said.. You're sassy
There's ways that things should be
And you'll paint flowers the way they are
So repeat after me.....

And she said...
Flowers are red young man
Green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than they way they always have been seen

But the little boy said...
There are so many colors in the rainbow
So many colors in the morning sun
So many colors in the flower and I see every one

The teacher put him in a corner
She said.. It's for your own good..
And you won't come out 'til you get it right
And all responding like you should
Well finally he got lonely
Frightened thoughts filled his head
And he went up to the teacher
And this is what he said.. and he said

Flowers are red, green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen

Time went by like it always does
And they moved to another town
And the little boy went to another school
And this is what he found
The teacher there was smilin'
She said...Painting should be fun
And there are so many colors in a flower
So let's use every one

But that little boy painted flowers
In neat rows of green and red
And when the teacher asked him why
This is what he said.. and he said

Flowers are red, green leaves are green
There's no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen.


If you've ever had a special teacher, one that taught you how to really think and/or nourished your creativity, please silently thank him or her now.

I've had the good fortune to have had a few wonderful teachers. Two come to mind as I write this post...thank you H.Zagor and M. Laudante for teaching me how to see all the colors.