Shades of Black

My head, it hurts, my fingers too
I force them to distract me
From vanilla-bitter truth
And what it is I'm lacking

My rods and cones deserted me
I see the world in there or not
Nothing white or sunset lovely
Color bleached by thought

There are no shades of black
No gradations to the color
Absent any factor to
Shift it to another
Shade or hue

No detail, no texture
A two-bit jagged display
Imaginary mixture
Of weary brown and gray

If I can't see it isn't there
The hole in the sand
Has room enough and little air
For my head but nothing and

There are no shades of black
No gradations to the color
Absent any factor to
Shift it to another
Shade or hue