POEM: Ken Holds Barbie First appearance in Inlandia: a literary online journal

Growing old, and, growing old together, were not included in the box. Not sold separately. Yet it was always there, in the play, in the premise. That this was the brand of romance that was timeless, forecast, indestructible. I felt this at a certain age, when my wife and I rested in quietness, fulfilling our fairy tale moment, as a destiny.

Punctuation are commands to the voice. In a reading, this piece may appear as more conventionally marked, keeping the flow of sound more tended. On paper, visually, much of the punctuation is replaced by line breaks, spacing, and blocking of phrases. It shifts, sending signals to the mind in different ways, thru different senses. Most of us are more visual observers. Once you’ve meandered thru the landscape of symbols, try going back, reading it aloud to yourself, for a second consideration. There are treasures each way. Enjoy the comparison.

Ken Holds Barbie

no longer brand new out of the box

most accessories lost or replaced

Malibu Barb, Stacey, Pepper; all grownup,

moved away into lives of their own

families of their own

the branding is stretched

she lays down, head in his lap,

and he strokes the side of her face

as if making wishes

for more of this

the pink jeep has been retired

the pink corvette rarely used any more

the Barbie house is mostly quiet

and the days peel off

on their own

one by one

like wishes

and their hands

paler, smaller from wear,

still fit perfectly

still somehow

made for each other

like bookends

of wishes.

~~~~~