Red is

A poem in three stanzas of 20 verses each about the color red.

Red is the colour

of the living blood,

and of the flood

when it carries the mud.

The colour of passion

and also of anger.

The colour of danger

but also of the

blushing maiden.

Red is the colour

of the setting sun.

The saving fire

by night, but also of

the forest burning.

The colour of my

party dress,

and of my dancing shoes,

And of the ribbons

on my hair

when I was a child.

Red is the name

of the narrow sea

dividing Africa and Asia,

And also the colour

of luck for the Chinese.

First sound of the word

ready, and first letters

of the word redeem.

Red is the corn cob,

I was told,

that forces you to reveal

your chosen one

when comes to you

in the threshing.

The colour of the rose,

of the radish,

and of the cherries,

which are earrings

for the daughters

of the poor.

Red are roses and

the bullfighter's cape,

the colour both

of love and peril.

the colour I dye my hair

to look smarter.

Also the colour

of blue Litmus paper

when the solution

is acidic.

Red is the colour

of tree leaves

in autumn,

but also the colour

of poppies in spring.

The colour of dresses

of cardinals and kings,

but also of the

peasant women

of Russia and Sardinia.