The Girl Who Was Cursed to the Shadows

No one saw her come
No one saw her leave
She had been cursed to the shadows
At least that's what people believe

But shadows are kind
And darkness a great teacher
They didn't let her feel alone
They became her preacher

They taught her all they had seen
From robbery to murder
They made sure she wouldn't starve
Into their comrade they had turned her

And perhaps everything would have been fine
If she wouldn't have turned too greedy
For things always tumble down
When one becomes all needy

She tried to rob the necklace
Off the minister's wife
It's not that big of a crime, the shadows protested
But they still imprisoned her for life

Maybe it was for the better
Now she's guaranteed productive work to do
And two square meals a day
A life without worry of rapists
And a shower to clean away the grease

It's not as rosy as it sounds
For she would have to lead a life confined
But isn't that the fate of all beautiful birds
To be locked away in a cage and for food made to grind

But anyhow who would have employed her outside
For she is unkind and unkempt
She doesn't have any manners, remember
She has been cursed to the shadows with no exempt

Sometimes I sit back and wonder
Did a skilled girl like her
Purposefully commit a crime so naive
In an effort to change the course
Of her woefully guilty life

Now she can sleep peacefully
Knowing that my wallet and yours are finally safe from her
And she will get the whole day to ponder
About shadows' other apprentices, who have got it worse than her.