The Devil's Scarlet Girl
I loved red ribbons, shiny and soft
but mama wouldn't let me wear them
said red was the devil's color
reserved for demons and scarlet women
I couldn't understand why
god would color blood evil
why did he paint the sky crimson?
How could a color be bad
the one my heart claimed as favorite
twisting in frenzy's excitement
every time I spied it
in roses and licorice
and in the mirror as I pulled
a comb through my hair --
so did that make me
the devil's scarlet girl?