Barbie and Me

Barbie and I were born the same year
She was born full woman
I had a more difficult transition
Yanked into the world
By forceps
My Barbie survived
Holes poked in her nipples by needles
So her babies could nurse
While at two, I withstood
My parent’s divorce
My Barbie survived
My brothers ripping her head off
While I withstood
My mother’s death when I was four
My brother’s tossed my stiff-legged Barbie from
The window of our VW bus
When I was six
The great thing about Barbie was
She came back in time for Christmas-
With longer blonde hair
and more flexible than ever!
She came back with Ken!
She came back with friends!
She came back with – a career!
She came back with those long legs
Firm breasts
Flat belly
And impenetrable thighs
Barbie came back-
Thing about me is
When I’m gone….?
I mean, when my breasts are poked full of holes
And my head is ripped off
And I’m tossed out of the bus
I’m not coming back
At
All….

Cathleen Schandelmeier
7-6-07