Clara Gillow Clark

Vermillion

By Clara Gillow Clark

Standing in the center

of a blank sheet of paper

you would look RICH to me

if I were six or even seven--

“Thanks a vermillion,”

I would say and wonder

if I could ever count that high--

how many people

how many towns

how many houses, 

cars, buses, and horses, 

how many stars

would make a vermillion?

What about flowers?

What about hairs 

On top of my head? 

Dear Vermillion,

You look like a number

and sound like a number

so why did they make you 

RED instead?