What Is Red?

What is Red?

Written by Janelle Spiers

Inspired by Mary O'Neill

Red is a candle

Glowing softly with light

A warm, dancing figure;

Flame in flight.

Red is a high-flying kite.

Red is love,

Passionate and romantic.

Red is a rose

Red is a dream,

A hat, a feather,

A chilling scream.

The sound of red is

“Beat! Beat! Beat!”

An infant heart

So faint and sweet.

Red is death –

A bleeding heart,

That starts to tear

Loved ones apart.

Red are rubies

And ripe strawberries,

Apples, tomatoes, and cherries.

Red is emotion

Tender and true

A happy ending

Given to few.

Red is a racecar

And a plastic cup

Red is a game

Don’t give up.

Red is life

Frail crying at birth

Full, well-lived days

Laid back in the earth.

Think of embraces

And wounds that have bled

Nail polish, late sunsets

If they couldn’t glimmer with

Red…