Faded Ribbon

Twisted, shredded, frayed at the ends
Discarded ribbons float on the breeze
Avoided, looked over, unable to mend
Snagging themselves in the branches of trees

From a distance, they shine, these satiny strands
Appearing like frosting upon a cake
But the closer one gets, the nearer one stands
The frosting unravels, revealing a fake

Alone as the rain falls, threadbare and fading
One ribbon remains, hanging in tatters
Mournfully observing the life it is hating
Realizing its usefulness no longer matters