Poetry

Bonding with Grandpa China Doll

Bonding with Grandpa

He wore white
Dad wore black

He wore wrath
Dad wore defeat


His eyes were on Dad
	mouth began yelling
	a wrinkled finger stabbed my way
"what's my problem
that's my problem"


I wore confusion
didn't cry
	didn't know I should have

just picked balled up cotton fur
off my pajamas

they were the zip-up
jumpsuit type
with feet

they were blue

China Doll

Bone china scratching glass
Listening to seething gale
Of nail and tooth

            Survival he says

Of least denomination
    Hair in tow
	       Low-slung slang talk
    Whimsical music
To an ambivalent
            Lady friend 
Recalling bloody dreamed
    Babies' eyes
Staring into the dog dark
Fondled breasts of polychrome
     Licked silver bright
On mortuary ash heap
Cradling crackerjacked
            Tire iron
    Whisper pain of velveteen 
            Heaven