Social Chameleon

A social chameleon--
now sparkling turquoise,
now burnt umber,
agreeing, accommodating,
vermilion feasting on seafood with my boyfriend,
bottle-green and gold when eating vegetarian dahl
in my parents' home.
Silver-spangled ivory to pray with my aunt,
and deep, dark navy to discuss Nietzsche and Kant with old friends.
Malcontent and saffron about the overuse of pesticides
for the benefit of the cashier at the Seven Eleven.
Sage green at my students' request
but neither wise
nor young.
Silently beseeching,
mercurial,
lost in the darkest white.
And sometimes no color at all.