What the Red Dress Wants

by Lottie McCrindell

after ‘What Do Women Want?’ by Kim Addonizio 

Two months and the Red Dress is fantasising futures

It does not understand the phrase let's play it by ear

not when it comes to desire. The Red Dress rejects 

moderation, refuses careful speech, bleeds dye 

onto ordinary things, mistakes longing 

for prophecy. For centuries people have worn red

to announce themselves. Women entering rooms 

with no intention of being overlooked

Red has never been the colour of maybe

but the Red Dress waits, holding onto its embroidered fantasy

Another dinner, another drink 

the evening proceeds with perfect ordinariness

until the woman who wore the Red Dress 

says she has recycled one of her blue dresses

so the Red Dress stands, pays the bill

leaves the mythology behind

Changeable-color textile - Associated Artists (1883–1900) https://www.metmuseum.org/