The Color Red

 “There is a profound difference between information and meaning.” — Warren Bennis

The Color Red What do you think of the bold color Red? So many meanings, so many symbols Political tyranny or a beautiful sunset Or is it just a color, the world isn’t that simple Driving a car, red means stop Driving enraged, red takes control Red is a pimple ready to pop Red also means stop, drop, and roll Red is a rose picked out for love As well as the blood pricked by the thorns Red is the dusk sky painted above the pitched-fork devil imagined with horns Red is the flame-tipped end of a matchstick Able to set a whole forest ablaze Red is the devious color of lipstick Able to snare all men in a daze Red is a blush from giddy excitement Red is a flush from a guilty indictment In the expression, caught Red-handed Like the adulteress with Red-letter branded Red is wine, dark and strong Rich in the belly, poor for the mind Red is a pepper, spicy and long Red marks the spot you hope to find The color of anger, murder, hatred, and rage But also romance, flirting, and ecstasy Red means forgiveness to the end of the age Or tyranny without hope of diplomacy Red lights flashing means help is on the way Or red lights can be a place where sinners lay An apple so bright, delicious, and sweet Or a blood-soaked and raw slab of meat When I can’t pay a debt I’m living in red The lace lingerie she wears before bed The stripes on my cheeks, regretting what I said The color that fades when we’re finally dead What do you think of the bold color Red? https://linktr.ee/jamessaintsimon