Red

At 4, lego red is a joy

A simple pleasure

A grin, a giggle

A wiggle of chubby toes

At 14, lego red becomes scarlet

A challenge

A matador’s flag

Raised to flutter on the wind

To signal the world

There is a new challenger

Ready

Fists raised

24’s red is postbox red

A letter to the future

A promise in the flutter of gypsy skirts

And platform boots

At 40, scarlet becomes strawberry

Vulnerable,

Fragile

And short-lived

50’s red is pale pink

Washed out and tired

A red bedspread washed too many times

And hung out to dry

And 60’s red?

60’s red is all the reds

Spun and rwisted into

Grey