I’m love, lust, and power,
I’m the rose scenting the bower
with perfumed bloom–
I’m scattered in rooms, laid on tombs,
in garnet spread, the shade with which we toast the dead
the luscious wine, merely one mourning thread,
or sip of seduction. I’m the crimson of celebration—
the color of flags and war decorations.
I’m the moon cycle of daughters and wife–
I’m the blood of death, the flow of life,
I stream from wounds and birth,
and nourish the earth
with youth blown dead, as poppies yield
to battlefields
still, bright color pops
amid remains, a buzzard-swoop, a rat hip-hop,
with berry-stained fur—
all the kings, politicians, and battles were
for what? Scarlet puddles, decayed remains,
only ghosts born from these labor pains.
I’m the she-wolf’s cry,
and the vampire’s sigh
beyond all understanding–
I am the light of the universe expanding.
A late entry for Mish’s dVerse prompt to “slip out of our human bodies and become nothing but a color.” I would normally pick blue, but decided to go with something different. 😀 I’m also linking it to Open Link Night. It’s a live session, but it’s my husband’s birthday, and we’re going to do a birthday project together instead.
Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings 
Ted is the color of life and death. Great poem.
Thank you so very much!
This is prime poetry, Merril. All the shades of red linked to fact or emotion really resonated with me. You know I like/love red, especially red shoes!
Enjoy the rest of the day with Doug, perhaps with “luscious wine.”
Thank you so much, Marian.
I’m so pleased you enjoyed this poem of red, especially since you love the color so much! 👠
It’s possible I had a glass of red wine. . .😏 🍷
I would normally could pick blue also. But wow your red is full of such passion and fervor! This says it all. ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you so much, Pam! ❤️
Reblogged this on About the Jez of It.
Thank you!
Most welcome
My goodness this is breathtakingly beautiful,Merril! 😀 I especially love; “I’m the moon cycle of daughters and wife– I’m the blood of death, the flow of life, I stream from wounds and birth.”💝💝💝
Thank you so very much, Sanaa! ❤️
Ah, such truth in your words. I was hoping it would turn out to be red wine, but I hope too, much. Why can’t humanity just spill the wine, and not the blood?
You write ….. beautifully, Merril!
Thank you very much, Resa.
Well, I did slip the red wine in there, too. And I drank some, of course. 😀
😀 😀
So beautiful, Merril. Now you have me curious about the “birthday project.” Happy birthday to “Mick!”
Thank you very much, Jill! 😀
Brilliant,Merril, I like all that clever rhyming and that rat hip-hop. On that subject this has a rap, hip-hop feel to it 😊…jIM
Thank you so much. (Maybe I’ll post a reading.) 😀
Red certainly can be expansive — such a range here to remind us how often it touches our lives.
Thank you, Ken! Yes, it really does.
Very cool poem, especially the fifth couplet. That is amazing.
Thank you so much, Luanne!
Vivid with rhythm. (K)
Thank you very much, Kerfe.
Your poem overwhelms … in a deep, wonderfully creative way … red never had so many hues.
Thank you so much, Helen!
Merril, this poem and its imagery strikes a cord. I’ve read it numerous times and the meaning deepens with each read! ❤️
Thank you so much, Colleen. That is lovely. I’m pleased it struck you so. ❤️
❤️❤️❤️
I like this poem very much. It offers a lens I had never looked through before. I love it when that happens!
Thank you so much, Liz. That is high praise, indeed!
You’re most welcome, Merril!
I love the vibrancy of your rose and blood scented poem, Merril! I especially love the colours in the lines:
‘in garnet spread, the shade with which we toast the dead
the luscious wine, merely one mourning thread’
and
‘…Scarlet puddles, decayed remains,
only ghosts born from these labor pains’
and the vocalisation in the she-wolf’s cry and vampire’s sigh.
Thank you so much for your kind words and close reading, Kim!
Such a comprehensive set of apt rhyming couplets. I was particularly struck by “I’m the moon cycle of daughters and wife–”
Thank you very much, Derrick. I’m pleased .
Wow. I love this. You’ve just convinced me that red is a marvelous, wonderful color. Beautiful, Merril. 🙂
Thank you so much, Robin! 😀
Another serendipitous moment for us – I post on blue – you on red. 🙂 The is fabulous! For me, you captured the color with both emotion and imagery. Now I chuckle because I don’t know when I’ll schedule the Red beach walk – but you have me thinking. 🙂 Well done, Merril. … and Happy Birthday, Hubby.
That made me laugh, Frank. Yes, I have so many blue poems. Maybe red forced me to think a bit differently. Thank you from my husband! And thank you from me to for your kind words! 😀
🙂
I think you did a wonderful job capturing the different aspects of red Merril.
‘Scarlet puddles, decayed remains,
only ghosts born from these labor pains.’
This is a striking image.
I hope you had a lovely time for your husband’s birthday!
Thank you so much, Ingrid!
We did have a nice day. 😀
This is AMAZING, Merril. Red symbolizes so much; blood, death, war, love, life, fertility, lust, wounds, and so much more. That is brilliant how you entwined all these ideas about red in your poem. I could never do that, personally. This is so brilliant, visceral, and stunning! I especially enjoyed reading these lines:
“I’m the moon cycle of daughters and wife–
I’m the blood of death, the flow of life,
I stream from wounds and birth,
and nourish the earth
with youth blown dead, as poppies yield
to battlefields”
Just WOW. It hits right at the heart, communicates so much about cycles and death along with how it all ties together with life. Beautifully expressed and well-written!
Oh, Lucy! Thank you so much for your very kind words! I’m pleased you saw/felt all this in my poem.
Everything has already been said, so I’d just say that this was the best poem I’ve read about a color!
Wow! Thank you so much! 😀
I love how you played with opposites… it’s most effective to know how red spans everything from birth till you’re dead.
Thank you very much!
You know… I had seen this in my inbox, told myself I’d come back later as I had to go do something and when I came back, forgot because so many other emails pushed this way down! And then just today, someone shared a piece about the colour red and I had a flash… I’m missing a Merril post!
This is wonderful. Red is such a versatile colour, is it not? I love how you showed so many facets of its uses!
Thank you so much, Dale. I know how things get lost and buried in e-mail. I appreciate that you came back to read and comment. ❤️
There are some I don’t mind missing; others, not so much 😉
Awww!
🙂