Baby Take a Bow

At three-and-a-half I tiptoed up on a chair
in the hospital waiting room the night my
sister was born, commanding an audience
of sleepy senior citizens and nervous family.
I stood impatiently tapping my ruby red shoes
just like Dorothy, and eyes closed belted out
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" cutely off key.
I curtseyed when they clapped, ( Read more... )

Raggedy Ann

the orphan doll
walks around like a tattered raggedy ann
beggar, ashamed and ashy, sleeping
under bridges or inside
dumpsters, abandoned by no one but
herself

diluted blood and pale faced
ghostly haggard, skin
falling off
her bones and skeletal thin,
stomach screaming
feed me- not that-
something real

but raggedy ann has become
a pincushion, ( Read more... )