AUTUMN FLAMING RED – 75 Gms

“If I had three lives, I’d marry you in two. The other? Perhaps that life over there at Starbucks, sitting alone, writing — a memoir, maybe a novel or this poem. No kids, probably, a small apartment with a view of the river, and books — lots of books, and time to read. Friends to laugh with, and a man sometimes, for a weekend, to remember what skin feels like when it’s alive. I’d be thinner in that life, vegan, practice yoga. I’d go to art films, farmers markets, drink martinis in swingy skirts and big jewelry. I’d vacation on the Maine coast and wear a flannel shirt weekend guy left behind, loving the smell of sweat and aftershave more than I did him. I’d walk the beach at sunrise, find perfect shell spirals and study pockmarks water makes in sand. And I’d wonder sometimes if I’d ever find you” – Sarah Russell

 Her curls would do the title justice but it was her sound that was flaming red, so full of rock n roll’s punk and pathos in her third lifetime – the one that made her wonder about the first two, where she’s unplugged-in to the whispers, the hushed tones and soulful hollers of mystical soliloquies and dense stories of americana. In another life, Patty Griffin would’ve been a Flaming Red rockstar singing sylphlike in haunting, vacationing and exhilarating hollers. She’s not married-in to it but still a rockstar – in a third life kind of way– not what she’s known for but once upon a time….

Well, the Flaming Red is an Autumn black – like the Exile you won’t find its songs in the greatest hits. It doesn’t sing its notes nor does it change colors like Patty Griffin’s ‘always-autumn’ locks – brown to auburn to red to yellow – but oh, do we wish and we imagine…..It is Vermillion, it is Scarlet, it is Flaming and Fragrant and Feminine and red and as far away from flowery as feminine can be. It is wonderfully present and wonderfully pleasant. It is perfumy, but not exotic – more native like ripe fruit baskets, intensely sweet condensed milk and kitchen tables and spice boxes. Woody, with the milkiness drowning the muskiness, the flavor is strangely reminiscent of Caramels and Cocoa. Full bodied and thick its flavors dive deep – into Berry jams and Apricot preserves and grandma memories. You are bound to find it – flavors much more personal to you – but rest assured, the mind for once will immediately give into pleasure, instead of chasing ghosts and self-fulfilling prophecies in a cup. There is no mistaking how exhilarating, how pleasant and how black it is. Coming from the highlands, little leaves of undocumented origins – the flaming red is a gala of both the season and the expressions it inspires.

“Jesus says Mother I couldn’t stay another day longer, Fly’s right by me and leaves a kiss upon her face. While the angels are singin’ his praises in a blaze of glory, Mary stays behind and starts cleaning up the place” –Patty Griffin ‘Mary’ (Flaming Red)