Cameron Brio

The Color of a Goodbye

Starting with a bedtime story and ending in the ashes of a fallen kingdom, this piece juxtaposes the harshness of chains, rain, and bullets with the profound grace of forgiving the unforgivable. It captures the exact, poignant moment when the smoke clears, leaving nothing left to do but color our words with love and say goodbye.

The Color of a Goodbye

I thought that you told me everything
story of the queen and the king

I sleep like a bird in my little nest
dreaming about what will happen next

The flower in the barrel of the gun has fallen down
the lies and horrors of the king have shaped the crown

The sounds of bullets tear up the sky
the people of the village are no more shy

I wished that I was never born
I now wish the king be overthrown

The king is now the clergyman
and the knights are the riflemen

The rocks are thrown all over town
and the power locked away in the crown

Now you tell me that time is running out
for taking back your pain and my doubt

There was once a time that you walked so tall
putting passion and love above all

You believed that there was no way out
but I know all it takes is to shout

The drops of rain are falling down
it’s cold and I’m crawling down

to a place that I once said goodbye
to the people I won’t forgive till I die

The sound of chains so harsh and bold
blood running down so cruel and cold

and now I’m caught with you in the dust
with the torch of love and a shame of lust

for a life that I could never live
for the sins that I always forgive

The heart of a man crying out in the dark
so full of love that the light will spark

Now that you’re aiming to the moon so high
let me color my words with love and say goodbye

By Cameron Brio - January 1990