Penny Red

I viewed her
from a distance
in a window
of a shop
in Holborn

she was so still
a live
mannequin
almost

she was buying soap

to wash
away
memories

and create
new
possibilities

and from where
I stood
in the rare
stamp shop
overlooking
a Penny Red

in a
muddy fingered
glass case

was a blue tacked
slightly ripped
faded
sign

that stated

'do not touch!'