Some of My Favorite Words are Colors
A Poem by Dan Burstein
To Accompany Julie O’Connor’s Artwork Turquoise & Malachite

For the last few years
I’ve been keeping a diary
Or a listing, if you will, of my
Favorite words in the
English language
 
In order to make it onto the list
A word has to whisper itself into my mind and
Into my eye and
Into a few others of
My Nine Senses and
Stay there for a while
 
It has to be as juicy as a summer fruit
As sweet as Tupelo Honey
As astonishing as a Cezanne or a Monet
As melodious as a great jazz flute
 
Many words are called
Few are chosen
An informal rule says the
Word must have come to me at least
Three separate times
Including once in a dream
 
One thing I have noticed is that a
Lot of my favorite words are
Colors
 
Not sure why that is
It just is
 
So here’s the list
In case you are wondering
As of the Spring of 2026: