Thread: Make sense of this, I don't totally get it.

Она была модисткой,
И вышивала гладью.
Потом пошла на Невский,
И стала б...

I think there is supposed to be some reference to prostitution, but I just don't get it.
Can anybody make sense of this? Also can you comment on the other, similar, "ditty"s that exist along the
lines of this? They are similar, but is this something along the lines of the American "There once was a girl from Nantucket.." type
of dittys.

Thanks

блядью
Russian slang dictionary: блядь

yes this is a game with words..
In the last record there isn't word "блядь" but there is a reference
to this word: "б...." because of "блядь" is dirty language...

And also the situation says that you need choose a word with ending like in гладью - but with the first Б.. - Бладью it's near with блЯдью

Let me humbly proffer my translation ))

Once there was a milliner 
Whose stitches were adored. 
But one day she took to Nevsky
And became a wh...

Nevsky is short for Nevsky Prospekt (Nevsky Avenue) in the city of St.Petersburg, which is the main thoroughfare in the city lying on the Neva river and pierced by innumerable canals, hence the name 'Nevsky'. 

Thank you so much. This is from a book I'm reading about St. Petersburg. I spent a couple weeks there this summer and in order to make the experience last I found several in-depth books about theplace. I believe I am seeing a plethora of short ditties like this, so I'm starting to conclude they are like our "There once was a girl from Nantucket...." rhymes which get recycled and reformulated.
You have a poetic talent I see,
thanks again