Tawny

My favorite word is “tawny.” The visual imagery it evokes is powerful. I first came to appreciate it in Alfred Noyes’ poem The Highwayman:

“He did not come in the dawning; He did not come at noon; And out o’ the tawny sunset, before the rise of the…”

I see that sunset! I see the troop of Redcoats marching, silhouetted against that tawny sunset. I can see the tawny lion charging from out of the… There is a beautiful blond woman I know with tawny hair which suggests strength of character and action. I like to say the word! I like the way it comes off the tongue, an adjective that gives force to any noun it modifies. Thank you for giving me the reason for putting my feeling for words into words!

Scrub