by J. Estelle Newlin
No lines or wrinkles were tear tracks have dried.
Expressionless mask with hollow cheeks,
So strong a surface, yet at the same time so meek.
Spider web cracks have formed on this face,
Unseeing eyes only stare into space.
Nothing behind such molded perfection,
Those eyes never leaving thier frozen direction.
Ah, but wait just a moment did I see her blink?
Do I see some life behind those eyes, does she think?
That porcelain chest, does it rise and fall with her breath?
Is there much more to those eyes than china depths?
Or is my imagination playing tricks?
Telling me she moves, telling me she lives?
See! There again I saw her move!
She moved her eyes to me, I spoke to soon!
Can she feel pain? Does she have a soul?
Can she feel triumph? Does she know woe?
Does she know passion, can she feel love?
Has she ever prayed to the heavens above?
Is she aware of how alone she is now?
When she weeps, are her sobs soft or are they very loud?
Her movements have ceased, she saw me staring.
She saw my wonderment, my questions, my daring.
I wish I could pick her up and run her away from this all,
I long to let her out, by shattering this porcelain doll.
(Copyright 2003 J. Estelle Newlin)