The sky was red and the grass was red
the dogs and the frogs and the treetops were red
even the ice on the lakes was red
and people were red and their clothes were red
the veins in the whites of their eyes were red
the walls were yellow
I painted them red
and not a nice red
not a subtle brick shade or a warm ruby hue
red like blood when it fills up the dropper
my landlord called it an intolerable color
threw me out in the heat of the summer
the heat was red and the summer was red
red like the streets where the signs always blinked
motel motel motel
in red
and the sun burned red and the rain fell red
the moon at night was red like rust
the water was cold
it covered my head
until even the ice in my veins was red
and the bubbles were red
and not a nice red
not pink red like roses or fire engine red
red like too little
red like too much
and the bubbles stopped
and I was red like a heart-shaped box
with nothing inside but white paper cups.