DEGREES OF RED

We tried to explain to Edwin

The principle of parallax,

How if he lined up two pheasants

He could get both with one barrel.

In the end, he tried glancing off the one bird

To hit the other,

Which he missed.

The first bird, red-plumed,

He took home.

We watched Melanie dye her hair

Carrot-red, and garish.

It was the fashion, she said,

And we dared not mouth the obvious joke.

She felt the makeover gave her identity.

Just about this time,

Sunsets were drawn-out and brilliant –

Dust, they said, from Mount St.Helens,

Circling the world. Beauty born of death.

Whatever, we were treated to some spectacular displays,

Pyrotechnics in slowest motion.

* * *

Three reds, then –

A violent volcano

Somewhere in the west of America,

A girl nicknamed 'Carrot Top',

And a stunned pheasant coming to life,

Flying round and round the kitchen,

And out of the door.

(Michael Newman)

18 Courtiers Drive

Bishops Cleeve

Cheltenham

Glos GL52 8NU