The Depth of “Black”

black is a rainbow you can’t see
a heart is too deep beneath
the skin that you read
like the chorus of colors
in the coral beneath the sea

black is the depth of a chasm
between the patience we have
to stop and fathom
individual atoms and our need
to stand for a national anthem

black is the absence of color
the lack of violet compassion
the void of golden concern
the absence of empathy
we have for another

black is a universe unobserved
nebula and nova, nuclear burn
intelligent imagination
spectra of black creation
to which few telescopes turn