Aversion : Red

I like to offer a red pen when I'm asking a poet / writer to sign their book-- curious for a reaction. Sometimes, there's none. Other times, resistance. Even refusal. Is it the violation of tradition? An aversion, perhaps, to the ink preference of editors and teachers -- bold red slashes, dots, circles, x-outs -- when making corrections to manuscripts or schoolwork. Maybe rejection slips are inked in red? It's not Kryptonite, red ink. No one, yet, has recoiled or fled from the offered red pen. But I can see it in the eyes. That something isn't right. I smile, a black pen or blue ready in the pocket if they just can't do it.