She fumbled with them, the small pair of earrings,

the thin silver posts pushing into the palm of her hand,

she clenched harder when she thought of a wedding band

and the way she blended with the other objects collected

wondering whether there would be just one to respect her

to love her for her, not as some false lord and protector

Another with blinders over the eyes that she loved so

seeing only the dangling baubles instead of her glow

the one that she wore from his touch on her heart

even after he’d gone when she'd find herself apart

one half in the present, while the other looked afar

his tartan she slept upon hiding both tears and scars

Barefoot and alone in this grand place on his throne

she was caged by fine marble and flowers of spun gold

and one man after another were so sure love had a price

yet other prisons were made just the same with such vice

they never understood why she’d not take their names

preferring to run barefoot in the streets just the same

Collarbone kisses planted firm there from such lips

from the one for whom she knew could never resist

even if it meant a poor life made hard in tough times

she would go in an instant without reason or rhyme

to meet the other she was glad she had finally found

who even loved her barefoot in that old scarlet gown