Once upon a time, I was born
and my mother clutched
me to her chest. My father passed,
waiting to pick me up.

Once upon a time, I ran through
the yard naked and when the mailman
put his hand to his mouth
I yelled “boo!”

Once upon a time my father gave me hugs
and let me lie on top of his side as we
watched TV. And one day he gave me a bath
and one day he didn’t.

One day a stranger came to town
and stole all my dolls. Lifted their
dresses up over their heads and laughed.
Once upon a time I changed

into my gym uniform
and heard the whispers. I found the corner
where they wouldn’t see me.
I stared through the black gate of the lockers.

Once upon a time the married man broke
through my barriers and made me feel like gold.
Once upon a time a man lay atop me and did his thing
leaving me like the discarded condom in the trash.

I stood in front of the mirror
in the candlelight.
I looked at the dents, the curves, and I thought
this is what all that was about?

Once upon a time I was born.
I was at my own baptism, my own bat-mitzvah;
I took the mirror away from them
and stuck it to my forehead.

I’m no longer looking at what you’re looking at.

01/02/2006

Posted on 01/03/2006
Copyright © 2024 Lisa Marie Brodsky