New Year's Day 2018

I'm all out of words of my own for bringing in the new year.  My only wish is for the removal of a man I believe to be an insane leader and that we can join together to vote out what I believe to be a corrupt congress.

Others' words are probably more appropriate on what should be a day of hope.

"[Today I want
to resolve nothing.]
I only want to walk
a little longer in the cold
blessing of the rain,
and lift my face to it."
— Kim Addonizio, from “New Year’s Day”

New Year's Day by Billy Collins

Everyone has two birthdays
according to the English essayist Charles Lamb,
the day you were born and New Year’s Day—


a droll observation to mull over
as I wait for the tea water to boil in a kitchen
that is being transformed by the morning light
into one of those brilliant rooms of Matisse.


“No one ever regarded the First of January
with indifference,” writes Lamb,
for unlike Groundhog Day or the feast of the Annunciation,


New Year’s marks nothing but the pure passage of time,
I realized, as I lowered a tin diving bell
of tea leaves into a little ocean of roiling water.


I like to regard my own birthday
as the joyous anniversary of my existence,
probably because I was, and remain
to this day in late December, an only child.


And as an only child—
a tea-sipping, toast-nibbling only child
in a bright, colorful room—
I would welcome an extra birthday,
one more opportunity to stop what we are doing
for a moment and celebrate my presence here on earth.


And would it not also be a small consolation
to us all for having to face a death-day, too,
an X drawn through a number
in a square on some kitchen calendar of the future,


the day when each of us is thrown off the train of time
by a burly, heartless conductor
as it roars through the months and years,


party hats, candles, confetti, and horoscopes
billowing up in the turbulent storm of its wake.


from the book, "Ballistics," © Random House 2008

What Do Women Want by Kim Addonizio and The Red Dress by Dorothy Parker

It just would never do for me to not include these two poems in honor of National  Poetry Month.



The Red Dress
by Dorothy Parker

I always saw, I always said
If I were grown and free,
I'd have a gown of reddest red                                          

As fine as you could see,

To wear out walking, sleek and slow,
Upon a Summer day,
And there'd be one to see me so
And flip the world away.

And he would be a gallant one,
With stars behind his eyes,
And hair like metal in the sun,
And lips too warm for lies.

I always saw us, gay and good,
High honored in the town.
Now I am grown to womanhood....
I have the silly gown.


AND

The Red Dress (or What do Women Want)
by Kim Addonizio

I want a red dress.
I want it flimsy and cheap,
I want it too tight, I want to wear it
until someone tears it off me.
I want it sleeveless and backless,
this dress, so no one has to guess
what's underneath. I want to walk down
the street past Thrifty's and the hardware store
with all those keys glittering in the window,
past Mr. and Mrs. Wong selling day-old
donuts in their café, past the Guerra brothers
slinging pigs from the truck and onto the dolly,
hoisting the slick snouts over their shoulders.
I want to walk like I'm the only
woman on earth and I can have my pick.
I want that red dress bad.
I want it to confirm
your worst fears about me,
to show you how little I care about you
or anything except what
I want. When I find it, I'll pull that garment
from its hanger like I'm choosing a body
to carry me into this world, through
the birth-cries and the love-cries too,
and I'll wear it like bones, like skin,
it'll be the goddamned
dress they bury me in.

In Honor of National Poetry Month - and the color red

Most of you know about my love of the color red, and a lot of you have seen me post these two poems here earlier.

In honor of National Poetry Month, I think I'll post a few of my favorite poems during the month, starting with Kim Addonizio's "What Women Want" along with Dorothy Parker's "The Red Dress."


I finally got around to doing a collage around both poems - something I've been saying I was going to do for years.  And ta da!  Here 'tis!

“What Do Women Want?”

By Kim Addonizio

I want a red dress.

I want it flimsy and cheap,

I want it too tight, I want to wear it

until someone tears it off me.

I want it sleeveless and backless,

this dress, so no one has to guess

what’s underneath. I want to walk down

the street past Thrifty’s and the hardware store

with all those keys glittering in the window,

past Mr. and Mrs. Wong selling day-old

donuts in their café, past the Guerra brothers

slinging pigs from the truck and onto the dolly,

hoisting the slick snouts over their shoulders.

I want to walk like I’m the only

woman on earth and I can have my pick.

I want that red dress bad.

I want it to confirm

your worst fears about me,

to show you how little I care about you

or anything except what

I want. When I find it, I’ll pull that garment

from its hanger like I’m choosing a body

to carry me into this world, through

the birth-cries and the love-cries too,

and I’ll wear it like bones, like skin,

it’ll be the goddamned

dress they bury me in.

"The Red Dress"

by Dorothy Parker

I always saw, I always said
If I were grown and free,
I'd have a gown of reddest red
As fine as you could see,

To wear out walking, sleek and slow,
Upon a Summer day,
And there'd be one to see me so
And flip the world away.

And he would be a gallant one,
With stars behind his eyes,
And hair like metal in the sun,
And lips too warm for lies.

I always saw us, gay and good,
High honored in the town.
Now I am grown to womanhood....
I have the silly gown.      

Celebrating the Color Red

Source: jenniferboswell.com

Source: topnews.in

Source: catherinecakesupplies.com

I love to drop what I'm doing and sit down at Meanderings and Muses to write about things I love and rant about things I don't.

Source: kaboodle.com

This is about one of the things I love.

Pottery by Boyd Owens

The color red.

Source: thecontrarianmedia.com

I've written about it before in one of my favorite pieces about needing some red in my life,  but I just happened to run across this wonderful poem and decided it was time to do it again.

My Red Poem (written with my pink pen) by Dorothy Alves Holmes

Here I write a red poem, Sophie Tucker red, 'The last of the red hot mama's red' It is a hard Tap Dancing Red, St. Valentine's red... Cinnamon Apple scented red... Georgio sweet smelling red, Victoria Secret Red Morning sunrise red, Red Hot lipstick red The blush on your cheeks red, Happy Go Lucky Red, Written with my flaming Pink Craylo Pen On this October day... Oh you kid! 12: 36 a.m. Dorothy Oh, That Poet Who Loves.....  Source: redcrayons.net Source: pianoworld.com

There's a lot to the color red.  Many feel it's a stimulant and related to our energy level. And an attention getter. Source: heelfreeshipping.com How the color red affects us physically Increases enthusiasm Stimulates energy and can increase the blood pressure, respiration, heartbeat, and pulse rate Encourages action and confidence Provides a sense of protection from fears and anxiety Red around the world Red represents beauty in many languages and cultures, including Russia. In Chinese culture, colors corresponded with the five primary elements, the directions and the four seasons. Red was associated with fire, south, and summer. In Japan, the color red is associated closely with a few deities in Shinto and Buddhist traditions, so statues of these deities are often decked in red clothing or painted red. In Sweden, Falun red (red based on the pigment from the Falun mine) was reserved for the privileged class. In China, red is associated with good luck and fortune. In Greece, Easter eggs are dyed red and the Greek expression "piase kokkino" ("touch red") is said when two people say the same thing at the same time. It is believed that such an occurrence is an omen that the two will have an argument in the future, which can only be broken when the two touch the closest thing that is red. In Jamaica, a popular slang term for someone who is under the influence or drunk is "red." In England, red phone booths and red double decker buses are national icons. Standard British pillar boxes (mail boxes) have been painted red since 1874. Source: lanoirenouvelle.blogspot.com In India, a red mark on the forehead is said to bring good luck. To the Hindu, red symbolizes joy, life, energy, and creativity. Islamic, Hindu, and Chinese brides traditionally wear red. Cochineal red, discovered by the Aztecs, was made using the female cochineal beetle. A pound of water-soluble extract required about a million insects. For the Aztecs, Indian red dye was considered more valuable than gold! However, it was the Spaniards who introduced the crimson color of Cochineal red to Europe in the 1500s. In Aztec culture, red was connected with blood. Red amulets were worn in many cultures to prolong life. In Singapore, the color red traditionally symbolizes joy. Chinese New Year is celebrated by wearing red clothing and decorating the house with red. Red envelopes with "luck money" are given to unmarried children to bring good fortune to them for the rest of the year. Red symbolizes feast days of martyrs in the Catholic church. In Israel, kosher clothing stores banned the color red and sell only loose-fitting apparel for women. The belief in the protective power of the color red can be traced back to the old Chinese folklore of the Nian, a man-eating beast of ancient China who used to feed on human flesh. Discovering that the creature abhorred loud noises and the color red, the people made liberal use of the color not only in their firecrackers, but also in home decorations and clothing to protect themselves from the Nian. Source: christiansalelouboutins.com   Interesting and fun stuff about red Red is the highest arc of the rainbow. Red is the first color you lose sight of at twilight. The longest wavelength of light is red. In the financial arena, red symbolizes a negative direction. Eric the Red is the Norwegian Viking credited for colonizing Greenland...he earned his nickname from his bright red hair and beard. Feng shui recommends painting the front door of a home red to invite prosperity to the residents.   Source: copyright-mandylynne-d.com   According to "The Language of Stained Glass" at Armstrong Browing Library at Baylor University: When Dante spoke of the Seraphim - the first of the nine choirs of Angels - the color that "glows" was the pure orange vermilion which his fellow citizens and brothers-in-spirit (the painters, illuminators, and glassmen) knew as red. So, it may be said that pure red is the color of divine love, the Holy Spirit, courage, self-sacrifice, martyrdom, and all the warm impulses that belong to the great-hearted everywhere. Bees can't see the color red, but they can see all other bright colors. Red flowers are usually pollinated by birds, butterflies, bats, and wind, rather than bees. Red is the color that means "severe" in the color-coded threat system established by presidential order in March 2002. This system quickly informs law enforcement agencies when intelligence indicates a change in the terrorist threat facing the United States.   Source: bridalsassique.com   Popular phrases that include red Red carpet treatment: giving privileged treatment to an important person Caught red-handed: clearly guilty Red in the face: to become embarrassed Seeing red: to be angered Red flag: a warning of danger Not worth a red cent: having no value Red letter day: a memorable, joyful day Red tape: excessive formalities in governmental process In the red: a term to describe an economic loss Scarlet letter: a punitive mark of adultery that originated with the novel (1850) The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Source: weddingcolor.com   Red in the garden Red is considered a warm color in landscape design. Its appearance in the garden has an energetic effect. Red flowers and foliage give the illusion of coming forward in the landscape, helping to make a large garden feel cozier.   Source:  sacredoysters.blogspot.com   Red plants attract the eye and are a good choice for areas you want to draw attention to. Red's complimentary color in the garden is green.   out our back door   Write mystery into your garden plots by combining deep reds, such as burgundy, maroon, and russet, with equally dark purple and chocolate brown. Such sultry combinations create the illusion of depth and hidden distances. --Better Homes and Garden     Source: 123rf.com    Red and our sense of taste Red fruits are flavorful and nutritious. Although not seen as frequently, there are also red vegetables. A few of my favorite red foods are listed below. The warm scent and flavor of baking apples is a sure sign that fall is just around the corner. The fragrant, sweet juiciness and deep red color of strawberries can brighten up both the taste and aesthetics of any meal; it is no wonder they are the most popular berry fruit in the world. Fresh cranberries, which contain the highest levels of beneficial nutrients, are at their peak from October through December, just in time to add their festive hue, tart, tangy flavor, and numerous health protective effects to your holiday meals.     Source: fineartphotoblog.com   Red and our sense of smell "Red is a color associated with poison, passion and seduction" -- Aromascope "Gallica Roses come in crimsons, deep pinks, mauves, and stripes and splashes. They are most often described as having Old Rose fragrances, which can be intense and spicy." -- American Rose Association AromaPod, a scented lifestyle tool, uses the color red with the scent that provides energy. "Cherry" was the original scent of the red colored Magic Scents Crayons from Binney & Smith Inc., introduced in 1994 with mostly food scents. However, there were numerous reports that children were eating the food-scented crayons, so the food scents were retired and replaced with non-food scents. The scent for the color red became "cedar chest." And since I love the power of images - here are some I wanted to share - - -  just 'cause.  Enjoy!  And embrace the power of red. Harley loves red too Source: beckonsyogaclothing.com Source: betterphoto.com Pottery by Boyd Owens Source: designholeonline.com Source: the-mediterranean-region.com Source: frostmeblogspot.com Source: liquidpaper.typepad Source: pamelaviola.blogspot.com Source: wvs.topleftpixel.com Source: writerquake.blogspot.com Source: thecreativemama.com Source: sodahead.com Source: squidoo.com Source: theasc.com Celebrate it with music - - - Whatever your favorite shade might be -  crimson burgundy cardinal carmine chestnut coral fire engine red fuchsia magenta maroon persian red pink rose ruby terra cotta vermillion sangria Sing about it ! Dance to it ! Source: dailymail.co.uk.com Shake a Tail Feather, Honeys ! AND -  ending with one of my all time favorite poems, ever - The Red Dress (or What do Women Want) by Kim Addonizio I want a red dress. I want it flimsy and cheap, I want it too tight, I want to wear it until someone tears it off me. I want it sleeveless and backless, this dress, so no one has to guess what's underneath. I want to walk down the street past Thrifty's and the hardware store with all those keys glittering in the window, past Mr. and Mrs. Wong selling day-old donuts in their café, past the Guerra brothers slinging pigs from the truck and onto the dolly, hoisting the slick snouts over their shoulders. I want to walk like I'm the only woman on earth and I can have my pick. I want that red dress bad. I want it to confirm your worst fears about me, to show you how little I care about you or anything except what I want. When I find it, I'll pull that garment from its hanger like I'm choosing a body to carry me into this world, through the birth-cries and the love-cries too, and I'll wear it like bones, like skin, it'll be the goddamned dress they bury me in.

Needing a little red in my life

Whenever I start feeling a little blue, I buy something red.

Anyone else do that?

When winter goes on too long, I start feeling the need for red.

Any little ol' thing. Sometimes I splurge and buy a piece of clothing, like a red dress. But sometimes it's just a little piece of pottery. Or even a new red lipstick. You know what they say - "Life's too short to not wear red lipstick." I don't think I had ever worn red lipstick in my life till I saw that little declaration on a little handpainted sign hanging in a shop. Little did I know that there are about a beezillion shades of red lipstick, and sure enough - my fear of red lipstick was soon banished with the help of Nancy the Lancome Lady at the Boone Belk's. She helped me find the perfect one. Hot Nights. It is YUMMY! It's sheer, so it isn't quite as "in your face" as some red lipsticks might be. And it's shiny. Pretty. I recommend it. But if Hot Nights doesn't work for you, keep looking and treat yourself to one red lipstick. You'll love it.

The first time I even realized I had this need for red was 11 years ago. We were living in Atlanta. Actually, in Kennesaw, GA; a suburb of Atlanta. Donald had accepted a job in Boone, NC at Appalachian State University, which as you know, is where we now are. I stayed behind to sell the house. Didn't know it was going to take six months. After 10 years of marriage, this was the first time Donald and I had ever spent even one night apart. It was a very tough time, and I had periods of being pretty blue. Special girlfriends helped me a lot. There's nothing like special girlfriends when times are tough.

and shopping.

The Marietta, GA square was one of my favorite spots to shop. I don't remember the name of the little clothing boutique I wandered into, but I could tell by their window that it was going to be just the place I was looking for. As soon as I walked in the door and the sales woman asked if she could help me, I replied with "I need something red." Now, believe me - I had not planned on saying that. It just fell out of my mouth and I was totally surprised. I don't think I even owned any red clothing at the time. This woman was a dream woman, or maybe a witch - the good kind, of course. She took one look at me and said, "I can see that you do." This may have had something to do with the fact that I had started crying. BIG tears. Just rolling down my face.

Embarrassed to death.

But. She never even once asked me what was wrong, so I didn't have to go into the whole long story about how much I was missing my Donald. She just brought me the prettiest, reddest, jacket ever. And I put it on, wiped away the tears, and walked out of that little shop feeling like a million bucks - wearing that bright red jacket. I love that jacket. Not only is it red, but it has gold silk lining - gold lapels & when I roll the sleeves up a bit, that gold lining just shines. AND it's sprinkled with gold embroidered hearts. Or wait! Is it stars?! DANG. It's been too long since I've worn it, I can tell! Shame on me for forgetting. I'll have to dig in my closet and find it. Today. As soon as I get home from work. It's not a bit like anything else I've ever owned and I don't wear it often, but when I do wear it I send up a thank you to that dear woman in that funky little boutique in Marietta, GA. And I do still wear it. It's a bit wild, but it's cut in classic lines so even though it's a bit over the top, it's a good piece of clothing.

Then I guess life moved on, the house in Kennesaw finally sold, I finally got to Boone, settled into our new home and our new life and sadly forgot my newly found love of red.

But recently, I've rediscovered it. I'm not entirely sure why or what happened this time, but over a period of time, more red has found its way into my wardrobe, and into my home. I used to have a lot of pink accenting the place. While some of the pink has moved on, I've come to discover that some pinks and some reds look smashing together. They're just happy colors together, I think.


And as usual, I have gone so far off on a tangent I have no way of knowing how to get back.

big sigh.

All I wanted to do was drop in and share two poems with y'all.

Two poems about red dresses.

and they're about as different as they can possibly be.

Here they are -

The Red Dress
by Dorothy Parker

I always saw, I always said
If I were grown and free,
I'd have a gown of reddest red
As fine as you could see,

To wear out walking, sleek and slow,
Upon a Summer day,
And there'd be one to see me so
And flip the world away.

And he would be a gallant one,
With stars behind his eyes,
And hair like metal in the sun,
And lips too warm for lies.

I always saw us, gay and good,
High honored in the town.
Now I am grown to womanhood....
I have the silly gown.


AND

The Red Dress (or What do Women Want)
by Kim Addonizio

I want a red dress.
I want it flimsy and cheap,
I want it too tight, I want to wear it
until someone tears it off me.
I want it sleeveless and backless,
this dress, so no one has to guess
what's underneath. I want to walk down
the street past Thrifty's and the hardware store
with all those keys glittering in the window,
past Mr. and Mrs. Wong selling day-old
donuts in their café, past the Guerra brothers
slinging pigs from the truck and onto the dolly,
hoisting the slick snouts over their shoulders.
I want to walk like I'm the only
woman on earth and I can have my pick.
I want that red dress bad.
I want it to confirm
your worst fears about me,
to show you how little I care about you
or anything except what
I want. When I find it, I'll pull that garment
from its hanger like I'm choosing a body
to carry me into this world, through
the birth-cries and the love-cries too,
and I'll wear it like bones, like skin,
it'll be the goddamned
dress they bury me in.





How 'bout you? Is there a particular color that has meaning to you?