poetry critical : poem

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rag doll

jenakajoffer

I was twelve and soiled;	1
mothered by a father	2
who hadn't seen a light day--	3
I learned to make do with secrets	4
and a cardboard box.	5

I never could stay free;	6
bound to my bed by lunar excuses,	7
looking for a way to mask the smell	8
of dead rodent--	9

when I was older,	10
I'd get thrown around	11
and slept with	12
playing house with	13
adam--stretch between screams	14
down the jean tunnel	15
after I birthed two cherries	16
and stitched my tears	17
when I was tugged too hard;	18

I've had patchwork,	19
but my seams	20
still bleed- stuffed with cotton	21
and weave, wings	22
to make me feel lighter--	23
I'm so heavy,	24
a prayer can't hold my wound.	25

I'm still pulling strings at thirty,	26
dragging my feet through	27
the muck; swords in my guts	28
make pain, dark and sick	29
as I flush His dirty curse,	30
and miss carrying.	31

08/15/08

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poetry critical