At the End of All Things

Red {Anecdote VIII}

An old man walked up to me

The other day on the street,

Cane in hand

Smelling of cinnamon and coffee grounds.

He wore dark tinted glasses

And I knew that he was blind,

Yet when he looked at me

It was like he stared into my soul.

"Hello there, son," he said like a grandfather would.

"Hello sir," was all I could say.

"Could you please do something for me?"

Feeling obliged to help the old man, I nodded.

I then realized my mistake and replied, "Of course, sir.

What can I do for you today?"

The old man smiled, and I smiled too.

He must have had a contagious laugh.

"It might be a bit hard for you," he warned.

"I'm up for it sir."

He did laugh then.

It was like the sun had peaked through the clouds.

"Well then my boy, what is red like?"

I paused for a moment.

How does one describe sight

To one that has never seen?

"Well," I began, "it's...it's not easy to describe colors."

He chuckled softly, and I was reminded of the wind.

I thought long and hard.

We both sat down on a park bench,

Legs against the cold marbled stone, thoughts drifting.

The sun was hot against my face.

"Well sir," I began, "it's like the sun

When you close your eyes

And breath in deep and you feel all warm inside

Like you just drank hot chocolate

And were hugged by your mother.

It feels like love and anger and passion,

Deep, deep feelings, big feelings.

Red smells like cinnamon and peppermint

And tastes like spicy Indian food and cherries."

The old man laughed again.

"I don't think that Indian food

And cherries would taste good."

"No sir, neither do I." I smiled.

"Sorry," he said. "Please continue."

The old man smelled like red,

Like the cinnamon I had noticed earlier.

"It's like being happy and angry at the same time.

It's the color of a hug or a kiss,

Blood and beauty, jewels and sunsets.

It's like a fire in wintertime and punch in summer,

A warm scarf against a cheek."

The old man glanced up at me then.

"I think I see it, son," he whispered.

A single tear escaped his blind right eye

And trailed down his face.

"And I think that I feel it, too."