, the color for which we get the phrase
born in the purple,

, the color for which an emperor
makes illegal the wearing of purple,

, the color for which markets
outprice the wearing of Tyrian purple,

, the color for which an emperor
kills people wearing Tyrian purple,

, the color for which desire builds
for Tyrian purple regardless of the law,

, the color for which non-emperors
still wear the snail-crushed dyed cloth,

, the color for which one may wish
to be born in the cloth as anyone,

 

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Toni Holland’s work has appeared in Literary Matters, Potomac Review, Blue Unicorn, Fare Forward, Jelly Bucket, Tau, RipRap, Poetry International, Superpresent, and Solstice. She has held a Fulbright Fellowship.

 

 
Image: Alexander Grey. Unsplash, 2018.