Poetic License
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Saved 5/05/10 to Poetic License

Challenge #3: 'Red' - Ted Hughes


Firstly, congratulations to angel_looking_sunshine for her winning look! Thanks to everyone who participated though, I hope I got around to commenting on them all... let me know if I didn't. It has been a busy week.

This week's poem comes from my favourite poet, Ted Hughes. (no copyright intended).

Red

Red was your colour.
If not red, then white. But red
Was what you wrapped around you.
Blood-Red. Was it blood?
Was it red-ochre, for warming the dead?
Haematite to make immortal
The precious heirloom bones, the family bones.

When you had your way finally
Our room was red. A judgement chamber.
Shut casket for gems. The carpet of blood
Patterned with darkenings, congealments.
The curtains - ruby corduroy blood,
Sheer blood-falls from ceiling to floor.
The cushions the same. The same
Raw carmine along the window seat.
A throbbing cell. Aztec altar-temple.

Only the bookshelves escaped into whiteness.

Saved to

Poetic License

allieharriet allieharriet
Ok, it is only the first two stanzas, but I don't think I can fit the whole poem. I am sure it is on the net somewhere. If not, you can always amuse yourself with Richard Armitage reading 'Song' by Ted Hughes: http://www.richardarmitageonline.com/ted-hughes/Ted-Hughes-Letters-Song.mp3