11 Colours of Autumn Tragedy

i. Bán

Frost covering the early morning ground,

white cloth covering the body,

skin pale as a ghost,

my mind blank and empty.

ii. Geal

The day clearing up,

swans on the cold lake,

enjoying the few days before snow falls.

iii. Liath

The colour of the sky

matched the grey mist

covering the roads and

roaming through the ancient ruins,

looking dull and colourless

on this autumn day.

iv. Buí

Sunlight and corn are gone,

his sallow skin fading

with his life.

v. Dearg

The blood on the road,

I ran from it.

It was too real, too intense,

too red.

vi. Rua

The night before was a stormy night.

I should have noticed the red hair,

shining like copper.

It was too late and now evil rust

is eating away at my soul.

vii. Gorm

Bruises on the skin,

right where the car hit him,

deep-blue eyes like the sky,

closed forever now.

viii. Glas

The sea is raging today,

the cold sky is pushing the weight

of this new guilt on me.

ix. Uaine

I was too distracted,

not seeing the bright green

jumper he wore.

x. Donn

The cattle beside the road

is the only witness.

Hiding behind some timber

I watch them take away his body.

xi. Dubh

In the dark shadows of the night

I move.

My heart is black with sorrow,

my soul is sold in secret

to the evil one.

First published here.

Okay, so here is my wacky explanation to what inspired this poem. It was basically two things. First, this tumblr post about the Irish words for colours:
http://truagh-mo-thuras.tumblr.com/post/158324210527/from-a-handout-i-prepared-for-my-students-last

Second, it was this song: