I twirl it around my fingers

I lift it to my face

It still smells of perfume

And her midnight embrace

I wear it around my wrist

And I wear it in my hair

I keep it in my pocket

I take it everywhere

I could have taken photos

I regret that I did not

But could pictures really capture

That summer long and hot?

The nights on the sand

The sun set on the sea

The market and the ice cream

The taste of cold iced tea?

I still see all those things

In the ribbon that was hers

And I wish it could be different

Not that it really matters

There is nothing I can do

To change the minds of others

Or to fly across the sea

A thousand miles just to join her

So I sit with my ribbon

And all my memories

And I wish I was still with her

In the city by the sea