BLOOD

Everything red has some of its properties 
carnelian alizarin a lake like other lakes 
translucent and fugitive 
After muskets armorers made gates and hardware 
Running for our lives became track & field 
Civility among the warlike never caught on 
as did bathing in flags and fabrications 
ritually dipping an arrow to remind the shaft 
of its purpose 

                           ⏤ from Blackbird