"Ribbons, pretty ribbons, white, red, and blue,

Such an array of colors would look so pretty on you"

But they walked on by as if she wasn't even there,

Her eyes of green shed tears but no one seemed to care.

"You, sir would you like a ribbon to look pretty on your lady?"

He looked at her disgust in his eyes and walked away.

No one had a need for the ribbon girl’s wares,

Lowering her head gave a deep sigh from the soul of despair.

Minutes ticked by then an hour and two still she stood,

And cried ribbons pretty ribbons but it did very little good.

Darkness gradually eased in chasing away the evening's light,

The streets were cleared, and she knew no supper tonight.

Little Johnny, her brother was getting mighty thin,

Not eating a decent meal since well she couldn't recall since

when.

Three-year-old Tommy almost always cried now a day’s,

Such an unpleasant life for a small child that age.

Ribbons, pretty ribbons, her throat long since fading away,

Raw from the singsong tune that she had shouted all day.

Her ribbons now piled high in a box carried beneath her arm,

And prayed silently that this night would remain warm.

Their meager belongings had only now begun to dry,

Soaked thoroughly two days ago as rain poured from the sky.

An old run down shanty with a hole in the roof and only three walls,

Even the town's horses were afforded the luxury of a dry stall.

But not her family, no they were the towns outcast, nothing, nobodies,

She brushed her tangled golden hair from her eyes whipped about by

the breeze.

Where was her father? Well she couldn't rightly recall it had

been so long,

But the pain when their mother never returned deserted them for a

life of her own.

So, what could she do but care for her wee little brothers?

It was so very hard to be both a sister and a mother.

Tears flowed so freely down her face now and their flow would not

seize,

Ribbons, pretty ribbons she cried as she walked down the lonely

street.

He stepped off the carriage, a ribbon to buy for his girl,

“Are you serious?” with nose in the air, she gave her head a twirl.

“Oh what’s the harm, from here they look rather pretty”

“You know nothing. Come darling let’s go into the city.”

He watched her walk away a wistful look upon her face,

She touched his heart, he looked around so as not to forget this place.

He climbed back in the carriage, “Come I will take you home,”

“But what of the city, you promised.” “The urge to go is gone.”

She whined and pouted but no good come of it, another was on his mind,

Never had a woman captured his heart, she was indeed a rare find.

Impatient was he to rid himself of this whiney girl with which he had saddled himself,

Finally, he walked her to the door and with not much of goodbye left.

With all possible haste, his driver (shaking his head) headed for the poorest part of town,

Oh, the despair that befell him when he found she was no longer around.

He left the carriage walked the streets inquiring after the ribbon girl no one knew,

Oh, such heartache. He had to find her, he must, he must. Where, he hadn’t a clue.

What’s that? Ah there it was again coming from the old grimy basement window.

“But Timmy you have to eat, Johnny please, you must eat too. I have to go.”

“I have to try again, please do not cry, I will never leave you alone,

“But I must find food, for you. Please understand, you’re but skin and bone.”

They drew in their tiny breath’s and their little eyes filled with fear,

She turned swiftly, how did he find her, and what was he doing here?

There was no reaction, time he was so quick to take control,

The kiss that melted her world, took her heart, swallowed her soul.

In a mansion overlooking the grimiest part of town the ribbon girl lives,

Her husband of ten years gives her all the love that he can possibly give.

Her brothers go to school, the finest of meals and smiles upon their face,

“Flowers, fresh flowers, they smile at each other, let’s find her a place.

© Cynthia Clark