Each
time I picked up my brush
To
paint her smile pink,
It changed to red.
I
tried and tried; repeating my efforts.
And
I kept failing.
Then
I asked that face on my canvas,
Why
do you thwart my attempt?
She
said:
Red
is my colour.
When
you assault me, red is my pain
When
I recover, red is my spirit
When
I see pain, red are my tears,
When
I achieve, red is my power.
Human
blood flows through my veins.
And
that oozes out
When you strike me time and again.
Red
is my shame.
I am
ashamed -
That
I share my humanity with you.
You,
who are my friend, my brother, my uncle, my father
That
stranger or that lover.
You,
whose hands grope for that slightest pretext
Or
my slacking vigilance.
You
who in so many guises and so many forms
Down
the pages of History
Have
perfected that one weapon of violating us.
For
you I have only one shade:
Red:
Red,
forever the colour of my Courage.
