Barbie Doll

This girlchild was born as usual

and presented dolls that did pee-pee

and miniature GE stoves and irons

and wee lipsticks the color of cherry candy.

Then in the magic of puberty, a classmate said:

You have a great big nose and fat legs.

She was healthy, tested intelligent,

possessed strong arms and back, abundant sexual drive and manual dexterity.

She went to and fro apologizing.

Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs.

She was advised to play coy, exhorted to come on hearty, exercise, diet, smile and wheedle. Her good nature wore out like a fan belt.

So she cut off her nose and her legs and offered them up.

In the casket displayed on satin she lay

with the undertaker's cosmetics painted on,

a turned-up petty nose,

dressed in a pink and white nightie.

Doesn't she look pretty? Everyone said.

Consummation at last.

To every woman a happy ending.

-Margie Piercy