Remember Red?

Remember when red

was more than the repeated thank you’s

printed on translucent plastic bags

or the ink on starched white cardboard

outlining minimalist architecture

vaguely ethnic boxes

held together with saturated fats

and promises of bathroom visits

Remember when red in a town

meant more than political standing

Culture painted in hues of red

where crimson was a mother biting into cakes

overflowing with red bean paste

and cardinal was the firecrackers dancing in the streets

amidst the rice cakes and almond cookies

calling out the names of children with sticky hands

Now red just means

another subway incident

or supermarket encounter

submissive standing

on the ground of silence and shame

positioned like the phantom puppies

that haunt our maudlin meals

and heinous diets