Hate is a red word.
hot hot hot
Like chewing on a cinnamon stick
Dipped in
Hot sauce.

Beauty is a red word.
mean mean mean
Like the movie after the book
That falls short of satisfaction
Although Movie Star Man won an Oscar.

Peace is a red word.
far far far
Like the shriveling lung
That only sees the finish line
When it has sunk into the horizon.

Love is a red word.
weird weird weird
Like sticky drops of rainbow
That dribble from your July Popsicle
Never sure if you should eat the rest.

Faith is a red word.
cold cold cold
Like the coat you invested
A million, billion, trillion dollars in
Then lacks a toasty pleasure.

Fear is a red word.
in in in
Like skinny-dipping
In a cryptic ink bottle
With the future snapping at your toes.

Elements of you
red red red
Like heat signatures and barking stop lights
And the doggone blood that keeps you alive.