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damaged goods
by Michele Schottelkorb
and to giggle would have been sin
no laugh lines on this aged girls face
she wore her pink dress
~matching ruffle socks and granny boots
the meaning of Life evasive to one
so sure that the only correct answer was
Yes.
to giggle would betray the masquerade
that surrounds one so
beautiful
~in her evening dress
red fishnets and garter belts
up done hair mangled against the bed post
if you turned your eyes
you wouldnt have to see her
stare at her;
in her;
through her
why give one so cold a cause to giggle?
just pay your fair share, dear John
and to giggle would have saved her
saved her sorry soul
but alas,
shes gone now
~stone hard grimace on porcelain face
body of the nameless
and countless gone before
05/08/2004 Author's Note: there are estimates of at least half a million child prostitutes in the US... right now... i wonder how many will die nameless... and laughless...
Posted on 05/08/2004
Copyright © 2025 Michele Schottelkorb
| Member Comments on this Poem |
| Posted by Ashok Sharda on 05/09/04 at 03:08 AM '~stone hard grimace on porcelain face', yes we are all resposible for, as a society. This is sad and thoughtful of you. The number is ever on the increase and we are on the evolutionary path. Technological evolution have succeeded in metamorphosing the external. The savage inside remains the same. |
| Posted by David R Spellman on 05/09/04 at 05:14 AM Several reads of this just leaves me with an empty, sorrowed feeling. The whole stanza about turning one's eyes to see, really see, in itself is such a potent and powerful in-betwen-the-lines statement. A real powerful look into a sub-culture world that is alarming and infitely sad... sobering and such an excellent write (if I dare use the term to describe this tragedy). |
| Posted by Philip F De Pinto on 05/09/04 at 11:45 AM there is no turning to stone in the face of these facts, but more a malleability we take upon us in the reading, and you present the sad fact of them in quite heartfelt way, as we would find it hard and unconscionable to turn away. |
| Posted by JD Clay on 05/12/04 at 02:30 AM Painfully poignant poetry, Michele. This is definitely a contoversial subject and extremely well-crafted. It grates the nerve ending of every sensory cell, and it's had to imagine this could ever happen, whether you're a parent or not. Good stuff!
Pe4ce... |
| Posted by Karl Waldbauer on 05/12/04 at 06:24 AM When I go to Hollywood I often wonder if the out-of-towners know that so many young boys and girls in the tourist area are selling themselves to buy food and drugs. Heartbreaking poem, Michele. |
| Posted by Chris Sorrenti on 05/12/04 at 04:41 PM Heavy, hard hitting reflection of a tragic reality...not just in the U.S. but throughout the world. Highly appropriate title also. Kudos! |
| Posted by Sarah Graves on 05/13/04 at 12:23 AM Very powerful peice Michele. We forget sometimes what goes on in our own country; mostly thoughts of "Oh, that kind of stuff doesn't happen here." Ignorant thoughts at that. |
| Posted by Kate Demeree on 02/08/05 at 06:49 PM A heart rending topic beautifly presented.. and I wonder which are the damaged goods... the innocent children.. or us? |
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