Racing Hummingbirds by Jeanann Verlee

Author:Jeanann Verlee
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: poetry
Publisher: SCB Distributors
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

the dolls

for Elisabeth Fritzl

Josef Fritzl imprisoned his daughter Elisabeth in the cellar of their home for 24 years. Among countless other abuses, he repeatedly raped her, resulting in the birth of seven children.

“The cellar in my building belonged to me and me alone – it was my kingdom...”

— Josef Fritzl

I built you a brood.

Used a tiny hammer and miniature chisels,

smoothed each little elbow with sandpaper,

hinged their joints with twine and wire

clipped from hangers.

Gave them button eyes and marshmallow lips,

made their clothes from tissue and the string

I once pulled from a pigeon’s nest.

Six perfect toy soldiers, just for you.

Seven, if you count the one in the incinerator.

He was blue as a robin’s egg. His limbs,

limp as an un-strung marionette.

When you burned him, our home bloomed

with the scent of chicory and cloves

like Christmas.

The six survivors

hanging from my breasts

do not know my name.

The three you took away

use the word lost as if wandering

the supermarket or a parking lot.

Yet there they were: perched canaries

at grandmother’s window,

slurping spiced pumpkin soup,

calling you Uncle,

wearing their faces inside-out.

The three you left in the dungeon with me

have grown into ghosts.

Veal calves, raised without sunlight,

born for slaughter.

They stroke the rats like puppies,

play hide and seek with roaches,

eat each other’s scabs.

You clever craftsman,

built me a doll house.

Turned me into doll maker.

Puppets with hinged jaws,

painted lashes that never blink,

porcelain hands, wooden feet,

and Father, look!

they all have your eyes.

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