Seeing Red

You maybe thought you'd seen it all with our Millicent Red Hat Ladies,
that group of charming, mature women gathering once a month in the name of friendship and goodwill,
and the visual enjoyment of many a passerby,
but wait.
There's more to be revealed.
Usually in crimson hats adorned with flamboyant feathers,
and the brashest bows and badges;
gloriously dazzling scarlet handbags, gloves and shoes,
and the purplest possible clothing clashing shockingly, according to fashionistas across the land…
but not in the eyes of the wearers,
the 'shrug it off, don't carers'.
Managing instead to enhance their special charms, bringing a rosy, cerise glow to each ageing cheek,
for these are the matriarchs from another time and place,
wearing their colours with pride and grace.

Then comes this special group's birthday month with a total reversal
honouring this loveable tradition
of caring and sharing the ageing position.
PURPLE hats declare supremacy this 'once a year' day,
along with all the matching trimmings
(One Red Hatter even has a pair of Dame Edna Everage glasses
- bejewelled in flashing royal purple, of course),
and the dashing ladies tread the byways and highways
and more than a few charity shops, too,
flaunting the brightest ruby red clothing
like it's the most normal thing to do.
No red-necks amongst this gang of lovelies,
no red-nose clowns so far,
but the laughter and joy they spread each month
as they go from town to town
is the spirit of loving kindness
(like a certain bewhiskered old gent)
their cheery redness spreads around.

(32 lines)

© Copyright 2021 cdcraftee (cdcraftee at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.

Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates have been granted non-exclusive rights to display this work.