Black Red Red Red Black

Georgia O’Keeffe, Abstraction Red and Black, Night (1929)
Black and red
Not like a sports team’s uniform
But like night and blood
Straight edged and angled

The night seems dark
Red clouds my vision
I run into a black wall

They overlap red on red
Like her legs crossed in red silk stocking
Black high heels hang from her feet
Truth from lies untangled

I can’t see from the blood in my eyes
A sheet comes from behind to comfort me
Lies in the night

A cop on a night shift
Heading home with the red dawn horizon
One last call 10-16DV
Gawd I hate the domestic beat

Black night, black eyes
He hit her, she shot back
Two red bullet holes bleed down

Black
Red
Read
Read
Fade To Black

This is for a dVerse prompt: For today’s prompt, I’d like you to choose one of the paintings in this post and explore the world around you through the murky colors and sharp angles uncharacteristic of O’Keeffe. Perhaps you’ll write poetry that is uncharacteristically you. Show us something we might not have come to expect from your poetic repertoire.

I chose the painting above and tried to go in a style and subject different from my usual. I also looked outside for inspiration with the black and night leading to the night and a cop and/or cops on night patrol. I hope you enjoy. 😊

Published by authorstew

C. Stuart Lewis creates poems with feeling, intelligence and sex appeal. His short stories and books focus on characters that feel real in real world situations. Originally from the United States he now resides in Ontario, Canada. Check out his webpage at TheAuthorStew.ca

3 thoughts on “Black Red Red Red Black”

Leave a Reply