It might as well have been a scarlet letter
Branded on her forehead for all to see

If it were the colonial days it would have been
And she would have borne it in grief

Scarlet letters for hussies, for
Sellers of bodies at night

Scarlet letters for the ones who took
Another’s husband – sent him home fulfilled

Scarlet letters cause shame and regret
But for only one of the guilty parties

It’s not a scarlet letter she wears
In this day and age but it burns even still

It’s in the way she lowers her head
In shame when his wife befriends her

It’s in the way she goes about alone
And gives up all her joys for him

It’s in the way she waits for calls
That don’t come often enough

She says it doesn’t matter but
She doesn’t believe it in her heart

It might as well be a scarlet letter
This love she feels for your husband

The love she carries within her womb
The love you cannot share

She thinks she will name his daughter Scarlett
and Scarlett will be loved – never ashamed
—————————————————————————–
written for Trifecta – Week 5 challenge. Write from 33 to 333 words using the THIRD definition of the word challenge. This week was SHAME – used as a verb. This piece may or may not qualify, but it is what came out as I sat to type.