the shrill abduction

went so quietly

i, the frilly centerpiece

smiling stark determination

i had shown before, when once

the stylist murdered

my teenage curls

the hair (so much of it!)

 had been cut off

the ribbons (so many!)

had been sewn on

white dress, promise made

what good would it have

done me to admit

i wasn’t satisfied?

mother’s face is showing

in the pictures

what my own could not

mother doesn’t usually, but somehow

mother saw. the gap

the horses coming

smile girls, this is your day!