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Witness (Prologue)

by Leslie Ann Eisenberg

Hello, life,
remember me?
Sister’s porcelain doll
from 1973

Yes, oh yes, years of girls’ hands,
tea parties, white dresses
french braids laden with
Pink ribbon caresses

I saw the bloom of
best friends burned
first love, first blood came
but never returned

What am I now, but
a sea of yellowed lace,
frozen black eyes
on a never-changing face

A lonely stoneheart
in a cracker box map
I saw mommy’s bottled tears
I heard daddy’s wish-slap

hush baby hush baby hush baby hush!

From my cellophane cage
I watch your dreams churn
Dust-faded trophy on a shelf,
dammit, girl, will you ever learn?

07/15/2004

Author's Note: ?

Posted on 07/16/2004
Copyright © 2024 Leslie Ann Eisenberg

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by Ashok Sharda on 07/16/04 at 05:06 PM

Well, life is a process. Can be ever growing. Never the same.Its upon us as to how we treat it. Its not the life which gives. It demands. We ought to give.

Posted by Kara Hayostek on 07/19/04 at 03:13 AM

Interesting poem, I never thought of a doll that way, staying the same as their owners grow...and witnessing all their secrets. Creepy

Posted by Chris Sorrenti on 07/20/04 at 06:27 PM

Radiates with a tremendous sadness and longing to go back to the way things were before boys or whatever. Haunting piece of writing.

Posted by Alison McKenzie on 07/20/04 at 08:46 PM

Multi-layered in time, events. But trust me, the face changes. It's one of the laws of the universe. And there is more to say about how the face changes than we initially think. I am left wondering about the cellophane cage, I'm going to have to give that some thought. So much packed into this piece, so thought provoking!

Posted by Max Bouillet on 08/18/04 at 11:23 AM

I see regret in this piece. A culmination of "I wish", "if only", and "what if". The sad realization that what you got and thought was important --may not have been what you wanted. Sad little verse.

Posted by Soulo Jacob Bourgeau on 04/18/06 at 11:49 AM

I love the premise of this poem, yet I feel compelled to peel off layers and look deeper; the doll's perspective, her sorrow of abandoned friendship is intriguing. Flows exceptionally well too.

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