Cecile is a girl who walks everywhere, lost in her own world, whistling and gazing at the glittering lights above her. The poem follows her through the run-up to the holidays, when bakeries smell of ginger and everything seems to shine. In the middle of all this, she notices a woman sitting still and staring, someone she has passed many times without really seeing.
Once Cecile notices her, she can't stop wondering. The short, repeated questions ("Who was she? Why was she there?") capture her growing curiosity. The poem also shows Noreen's side, as she watches the girl in blue skip past and wonders about her too. Both are noticing each other from a distance. Finally Cecile buys a hot cross bun and leaves it beside the woman, with a small, slightly awkward note about crosswords. The mood is gentle and warm, a little lonely at first, then hopeful. The last line says it simply: someone did notice her.