The Murder Of Scarlett

daddy’s little girl was outside playing
but never came back to her mommy….
whodunnit? who killed such a sweet kid?
cold police in blue said the neighbor did.

they found her body/corpse all alone--
every button on her cotton dress undone.
sweet scarlett was only eight years old….
turns out mister neighbor’d killed before.

her lips like a sunset—although no scene
has ever been so bruised and bloody,
nor slit open so harshly by a cruel flash
of the silver dagger she saw last.

her eyes were open, mouth gaping—
looking like a child’s plaything,
scarlett’s namesake oozed between pale cheeks
stopping her last beautiful scream.