Painting Water

Did you know
that it is possible to paint a lake
without a single drop of blue?

The sun reflects across the water
that's splendid lemon-white.
And the trees solid,
crimson, bold
climb into a golden, fiery sky.

An old man in a black boat
bobs atop the umber waves
and casts his fishing line.

If I could
reach my hands through the frame,
they'd come back wet.

And I wonder then
why do you, when sketching water,
paint the world cerulean?