In the spectrum of hues
The colour to choose
For images strong and intense
For love and desire
For fear and for fire
Red has omnipotence

It’s the colour of danger
The colour of war
The colour that tells us to stop
The colour of rage
That’s hard to assuage
When feelings go over the top

It’s the colour of blood
It’s the colour of joy
And for some it’s the colour of luck
It catches the eye
In that bow in the sky
And signals when lightning has struck

It’s the colour of passion
Of style and of fashion
It’s the favourite of lady and gent
It’s the positive lead
In the battery feed
And shows up when we’ve overspent!

It’s a Valentine rose
When sweethearts propose
Full glasses of rich fruity wine
And many a berry
From strawberry to cherry
Plump juicy grapes on the vine

It’s the colour of strength
It’s the colour of power
The colour of rubies so rare
A cardinal gem
In the crown diadem
With red there is naught to compare


© by Nick Balmforth.
Used with the author’s permission.