In Memory of the Red Dress

Each year, 
     when the envelope comes 
          holding a leaf of brightest red and nothing more,

I know who sent it without there being a name, 
     There was nothing else in our home town worth remembering,
          And no one else there who would bother seeing the brightest red.


The little red maple planted itself too near the fence,

too near the garage,

and underneath the electric wires,

but brave tree was too bright and beautiful;

 flaming red each Fall,

for anyone to touch its mediocrity in Spring and Summer,

or its nakedness in Winter.

Once you told me you smiled whenever you passed the maple tree

 in memory of the red dress I wore

the night we danced beneath it's branches.

 

Reviews

[Yira Simone]

I loved this. Such strong and beautiful imagery. I love how you carry the color red through out, the dress, the leaves, the leaf on the envelope...it all tied in very well. This had a nostaligic feel to this and I think it is one of those poems that would fit in any time period. Stunning all the way round.-Catrina

[Danielle Thilette]

I love it. Everyone else has already reviewed it so brilliantly there isn't much left to say :)

[Celtic Cat]

Of course I had to stop by your Tree piece first.. lol!!
This is so beautiful. The thought of someone sending a single maple leaf through the mail.... very poignant. I had to laugh at the too close to this and that, as we have a rogue Oak growing right up against our back fence (amidst the five maples) but we can't bring ourselves to take it down.
Love this piece!!

[Charlotte Marie]

A great piece! I love the description here! Beautifully penned as well! Great job!~Charley~

[Luna Tique Fringe]

This is a lovely story/vignette...rich in imagery and rich between the lines. You leave the reader room for speculation, I like that.

[Lydia Breakfast]

"no one else there who would bother seeing the brightest red."

But you have made us see the bright and beautiful tree from a little scarlet slip in an envelope to a shot of flame in the autumn sky. Very well done.

[Staci Brown]

[color=indigo]
Great description again! Thank you for reminding me of the maple trees of my youth in the northeast!

Faerie Blessings!
[/color]

[Eric]

Ok... I'm going to try again.

I really do like this. I like the title. And I like how you clearly help us see where things are: "near the fence," "too near the garage," "underneath the electric wires." More than mere locations, they add considerably to the beauty of the piece. You go to such great lengths to show us where everything is that it's like you're telling us that the little things are important. It's not just "near the garage," it's "too near the garage." I like that.

The tiny song of trees and a single red leaf are important. As is this poem.

Nicely done!

Really, nicely done!

[Tomás Ó C..]

Beautiful poem evoking the maple.

[Erotic Goddess]

WOW! Such a beautiful descriptive piece. The movement was slow and sweet and very touching.