ancient red

sometimes I'm moved to acts
of generosity
not necessarily
by war, or crime, or other bastion
causes of good, human feeling,
the urge to clarify and solve.

but rather seeing PD James' books
listed in web encyclopedias
with only one or two
unflattering reviews
noted,
giving a false impression that
her books were largely ill-received.

"this cannot stand!" I cry,
and sharpening my editor's pencil,
a cheek aflames with ancient red passion.