Red

Sending her off all scarlet and caped,
bound to be taken, eaten or raped:
Filthy little slut and only fifteen,
glossing her mouth with a lusty sheen:
Off to feed the wolves you go,
weaving yourself fairy tales of woe:
'It's a lonely life beneath leaf and branch,
living in my ancient tumbledown ranch.'
Sashaying hips down the gravelly path,
licking full lips with a throaty laugh:
Bramble scratches from smacking oak,
wise eyes closing, breathing in smoke:
Red lipstick in my day was for only one sort,
the unmarrying kind who often caught
many an affliction spot-filled with a rash,
sexy sweet-nothings for jewellery and cash:
Brought up a lady, I will always abhor,
the bandy white legs, the purple bruised raw
flesh of your neck that you don't even hide,
'Virginal whore' I broke down and cried:
Throwing your head back, teeth to the air,
flicking your bouncy bleach-streaked hair,
skipping to "Granny's" supposed for tea,
while I know you're with him, stroking his knee:
Doe-like, bashful, batting unlined eyes,
and I'm sitting, pacing, planning goodbyes:
Little girl, you have to live with your life,
he should be here, with me, his wife.