paint her yellow if you have to –
if that is what you need to do
to be bright, but paint her yellow
like the lines on the road, guiding.
paint her yellow like the high-vis vest,
so you do admit that you see her.
paint her yellow like the sleeves
on a scaffold, protective. paint her
yellow like a skip, so you know
that she can hold all your crap.
paint her yellow like sunflower, energy
to follow the light each day, and
do not think of custard or soft vanilla
folding into itself. Turn that around.