Rouge de Guerre

image from pinterest.com 

Rouge de Guerre

“There is a shade of red for every woman.”

--Audrey Hepburn.

I’m kind of a big shot

in the color spectrum,

part of the trinity of

primary colors--hand

in hand with yellow and blue.

I’m kind of the Gemini in the group,

symbolizing everything from

l’amour to la guerre.

I am the vigorous hue

at the end of the visible light spectrum.

I have a brilliantly mantled clan

of cousins, from yelllow-tinged

scarlet and vermillion to blueish-

red crimson, or pinkish-blue violet,

to pale petal pink to deep red burgundy,

or dusky rubies and weather-worn brick,

from almost black currant to apple and

berry jams.

All mammals can see me,

but dogs and cattle can not.

They only see yellow & blue.

I seem gray to them.

Yes, that means a bull can’t see

red--he is just irritated by the

movement of the cape.

Most folks just call me Red,

but I vastly prefer Rojo.

My esthetic side leads to

love, passion, lust, shame,

embarrassment and orgasm.

My malevolent side leads to

conflict, combat, war, danger

and Satan.

From day one to wound one

I have been associated with blood,

secondary to oxygenated hemoglobin.

Christ, wines and divers religions

have made me a popular

cornerstone.

I am proud to be wedding dresses 

in India, and flags in Japan and China,

flapping in every language. I remember

well a 1,000 B.C. when prehistoric men

mixed me from ochre for their cave art.

I am a power color.

Extroverts adore me.

From power ties (except for Trump’s)

to sleek sports cars,

I will get your attention.

I can make you hungry or horny,

can designate you as saint or sinner,

and accompany Cardinals

as feathered breasts

and Vatican robes.

Yellow and Blue are OK,

like unleavened bread is OK, 

but when it comes to energy and power--

I’m your Guy.

Glenn Buttkus

Posted over at d'Verse Poet's Pub