A minimal test to show a non-working (eval (read-string ...))

test-eval.clj

(ns my.test
  (:import [javax.swing JFrame JPanel JButton JLabel]
           [java.awt Dimension]
           [java.awt.event ActionListener]))

(defn parse
  [^String s]
  (println (eval (read-string s))))

(let [^JLabel input (JLabel. "[255 255 255]")]
  (doto (JFrame. "Test")
    (.setContentPane
      (doto (JPanel.)
        (.add input)
        (.add
          (doto (JButton. "Parse")
            (.addActionListener
              (reify ActionListener
                (actionPerformed [this event] (parse (.getText input)))))))
        (.setPreferredSize (Dimension. 200 200))))
    (.pack)
    (.setVisible true)))