Red Through Life
Age 2, an inspiring dream of riding in a fire truck
Elementary School, handing the perfect gleaming apple to a favorite teacher
A year later, the courage to give a first crush a glittering heart valentine
Red is dreaming, red is gleaming, red is glittering.

A slip on a rock, scarlet stream down the knee
Bright, iced Kool-Aid at the wooden lemonade stand
Succulent strawberries, real raspberries, cheerful cherries staining small hands.
Luscious, juicy tomatoes just picked from a planted garden
Red is streaming, red is quenching, red is enjoying, red is tasting.

The sweatshirt from the boy on the football team
Hot with anger at a best friend’s triumph.
Taking responsibility for actions.
Experiencing the most sought after period of life.
Red is lust, red is envy, red is pride.
Red is childhood and growing up.
Red is life.