Black and White

Was it ever this simple?

Black and White

Life should be black and white,
like the print and pictures of
the weekly newspaper you could get
for 15 cents at Scotty Richardson's General Store
in Rumford Center while waiting for your dad
to buy some Italian sandwiches at Dino's Pizzeria.

It should all be black and white.
Not like a beautiful skunk,
packing eye-watering, noxious fumes,
behind a fluffy white tail.

Simple and sweet and lovely,
like a nostalgic trip down
the lilac-fringed lane,
to get a bouquet for mom's birthday.

It should all be black and white.
What happened to this world
so colored and tinged and riotous
that forgot love and meaning
in the wild scramble of colors.
Alice in Wonderland's mad world,
would be a nice break compared
to where we live today.