SHE THREADED THE NEEDLE WITH A FOLDED DULCIMER STRING
SCISSORED THE SHAPES FROM AN OLD T-SHIRT
POKED HER FINGER PUT ON A THIMBLE STITCHED THE SEAMS
LITTLE COTTON DOLL LOOKED A LOT LIKE HENRY
SHE HIDE IT AWAY IN A BOX OF FORGOTTEN PLANS AND SCHEMES
IN HER CLOSET BEHIND A PAIR OF SHOES
SHE PUT HER HEAD ON HER PILLOW SHE COULDN’T SLEEP
SHE OPENED HER EYES LIT A CANDLE PUT SLIPPERS ON HER FEET
SHE CARRIED THE BOX FROM THE CLOSET UP THE STAIRS
TO A CORNER OF THE ATTIC IN THE DARK
FROM HER BED SHE COULD HEAR A RUSTLE IN THE ATTIC ABOVE HER
WITH LOVE LETTERS A MOUSE MADE A NEST
CHEWED THE PICTURES RIPPED THE COTTON FROM THE DOLL
SHE KILLED THE MOUSE RESTUFFED THE DOLL RESTITCHED THE SEAMS
AND WALKED AWAY WITH HER MOTHERS COAT
DOWN THE ROAD THROUGH THE SNOW AND THROUGH THE STREETS
SHREDDED LETTERS REPLACED THE COTTON MOUTH CLOSED WITH ZIPPER TEETH
SHE CARRIED THE DOLL TO THE END OF THE WORLD
AND HURLED IT INTO ETERNITY
LITTLE COTTON DOLL LOOKED A LOT LIKE HENRY
-CHARLIE McGOVERN
WRITTEN JANUARY 2000 DRIVING TO SALINAS FROM LA,
THEN FROM SALINAS TO DETROIT
HELPING OMAR RODRIGUEZ MOVE TO DETROIT.