How independent are we?

I

t’s July 4, Independence Day in my country, 

And red, white and blue are the colors of the day, 

Just not this shade of blue, 

Which is the turquoise—or is it aqua?— 

Of the ‘58 Chevy my parents had 

When I was growing up. 

Someone else’s restored version of that Chevy 

Keeps reappearing at the car show 

That’s held every year here on the 4th, 

And each year it triggers memories of childhood. 

I wonder now if those memories explain 

The appearance of this shade of blue 

In so many of my paintings… and why 

So often those same paintings have 

 These same, orangey-red accents.

 Are we ever truly independent of our origins?