When I think of red, I think of Rothko.
One afternoon in a cottage above the Missouri River, I sat with a friend and blathered about poetry. She listened closely. She realized I was talking about words like a painter might talk about primary colors.
“Do you know Mark Rothko’s work?” she asked.
“Not really,” I answered.
Friendly bikers could be heard below on the Katy Trail. A cool wind marched through the screened-in porch and brought cow smell and lilac. I got on Google and quickly became entranced by Rothko’s No. 15, Untitled.
Red and gold.
This introduction to Rothko spurred me to a flurry of inspiration that would culminate in a literary triptych (three sections of 15 poems). Rothko’s powerful choices of red, gold, yellow, are prominent in the resulting 45-poem swath.
For me, the painting cannot be separated from the poems. Rothko might concur, for he said, “A picture lives by companionship, expanding and quickening in the eyes of the sensitive observer.”
Sensitive and inspired, I slung a new layer of oil on top of Rothko’s canvas—romantic stories set in the natural and cultural landscape of my home in the Ozarks. Was the painting ultimately quickened by my activity? Maybe yes, maybe no. But I was surely quickened, as I came home to red.
6 | Rothko’s Reds
We are joined at the hipbones
like Rothko’s reds. Slight spaces
between like woman man skin
sticking, unsticking—blotchy fuzz
Rothko wrists into the painting.
No matter how you triangulate the canvas,
you see us. Naked pulsing red mists—
no boundaries on land,
pond, and autumn gold field.
Post by Dave Malone, author of Under the Sycamore.
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Dave, I’ve been feeling a little uninspired with my poetry-writing lately. Last night I wrote a poem about how I feel bereft of images.
Maybe this is just what I need! To look into the brush strokes of a painting
Ooohhh… I feel a tickle in my writing brain.
I did too, Heather. Now I have a Rothko red poem!!
Speechless… 18 years ago I had a dream that was more than a dream. I have been waiting on the colors red and gold to confirm it’s meaning. I just knew in my spirit the answer was near. I will write a poem about my dream now that was more than just a dream… How can this be?
I’ve been privileged to see much of Rothko’s work and have visited the Rothko Chapel in Houston. I also saw “Red” on Broadway, the play about Rothko’s Seagram’s commission. Love his work, especially his black-on-black paintings, which I’ve written about.
I also want to read this series of poems!
LL and Heather ~ glad I could inspire.
That’s really excellent, Maureen. I have just been in awe when I cruised the Chapel website. I like the black on blacks as well. Did they inspire poetry from you? Two small presses have shown interest, so we’ll see what happens! But you might not want to wait that long (I don’t!). But I’m willing to share my Rothko inspiration if you are. 
Dave, maybe we need to feature some here or at Every Day Poems
Great idea!
Beautiful. I love ekphrasis. Lines 6 and 7 are my favorites!
Thanks, Tania.