Little Red Ribbon

little red ribbon threaded through your hair,
golden brown like stardust, sparkly and fair.

thick dab of lipstick smeared across your lips,
finger-shaped bruises pressed onto your hips.

(rosy cheeks and dimpled smiles,
still so young behind those eyes.)

angry welts seared in blood across your skin,
pretty ugly swelling, penance for your sin.

little red ribbon knotted ‘round your neck,
look at you now, baby, what a trainwreck.