blueeyed baby doll smiling pink smiles
she (white high heels
                                           tap
                                                   tap
                                                          tapping) runs to the bus stop

                                                          trips up the stair
                                                          to the office downtown           where

                                                                 (in the little girl’s room)

mirror mirror on the wall
reflects cotton-candy sweaters
                                                          pastel-pretty faces

her names are
judy maryellen betty
                                 she is interchangeable

sweetheart honey
                                                          she is edible

                                                                   her skirt a signal flag
                                                                  the kind of girl that married
                                                                  dear ol’ dad (buttons her blouse
                                                                                                                    to her chin)

for fortyseven years she plays girl next door
until       judymaryellenbetty

                                                     expires
                                                                 smothered in cellophane