Question

What does the colour ‘blue’ suggest in the poem? Make a list of other colours and the emotions and moods they carry.

Answer 1

The poem does not directly describe the colour blue. In the title, “Blues” refers to a mournful musical form and suggests sadness, loneliness and despair the emotions experienced by the homeless refugees.

Colours can suggest different moods, though their meanings vary with context and culture:

• Blue: sadness, loneliness or calm
• Red: anger, danger or passion
• Green: hope, growth or envy
• Yellow: joy, warmth or caution
• White: peace or innocence; sometimes emptiness
• Black: grief, fear or darkness
• Grey: uncertainty, gloom or weariness