Friday, March 9, 2018

Doll Play

Image result for merle oberon that uncertain feeling

“We are all just little dolls ourselves.
Who occasionally pull back the
curtains to reveal the real us."
- Bruce Erik Kaplan


Doll play saves questions.
I can dress my sideshow in acceptable,
mannequin walk to pop tune shallow,
and keep the mirror close to my hip.

It gets a bit plastic on the dull side,
but if I lift the curtain too often
on my weird, the offended are
shortchanged the full smug 
of their outrage.


©Susie Clevenger 2018


31 comments:

  1. 'the full smug' indeed--a very adroit use of compound symbols and phrases here, Susie. I have *never* liked dolls--they've always creeped me out, and here you make me see(and feel) why. And afa the underlying message, couldn't agree more--how often the reveal becomes the repulse. Thanks for another excellent 55.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you...It is a twisted mirror we live in these days. People can't handle your real if it doesn't fit in with their fake.

      Delete
  2. That first line is soooo good. I truly believe it does. The first thoughts of our life now and our life then and our life future, can all be answered, and I think fairly accurately through the veil of this kind of playtime. There are some places where we can be ourselves. Great job Susie!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you... I can calm down my real, but unfortunately my face doesn't always want to play along. lol

      Delete
  3. Whistles!💞 I love the fiery tone and mood of this one, Susie! Often we drop the curtain upon our real selves for fear of world and its scorn. Thank you so much for writing to the prompt.💞

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you... I like to drop my crazy on people unexpectedly. No, I have tried doing that thing it takes to fit in and it never works. I'll just be me.

      Delete
  4. We toads have no time for the offended.
    ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. How I adore that second stanza. "If I lift the curtain too often on my weird"....and that smug outrage, lol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks... Being someone else just doesn't work. My weird just doesn't like to hold back. lol

      Delete
  6. "It gets a bit plastic on the dull side" Perfect. An 'aha' moment for me.

    ReplyDelete
  7. ...maybe that "outrage" is good for them :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I adore the second stanza too - lift that curtain more often! Outrage their outrage!
    Anna :o]

    ReplyDelete
  9. *snickersnort* We wouldn't want to do THAT!

    ReplyDelete
  10. You got me at that first exquisite line. I love 'the full smug of their outrage.'

    ReplyDelete
  11. I too hated dolls. I preferred playing with real animals. Yeppers. Society does hate a real weird and prefers a fake normal. Give 'em hell and lots of weird.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Playing dolls gives us,a chance to pull the strings as we wish. I had a red nosed sock monkey but it didn't give me much comfort. The raged don't have self control any more than the afflicked oes. But then self control is only to please the test, make us dit.
    ..

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow!!! What a craft of worded feelings.
    Luv it

    Much🌼love

    ReplyDelete
  14. Such an enigmatic poem - I loved every word

    ReplyDelete
  15. "Smug outrage," such a luxury. What would "outrage" us, interesting write, I enjoyed reading!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Only the very bright and brave and fantastically awesome... can fully appreciate what dances and rages behind our curtains.

    Love this.

    ReplyDelete
  17. very cool, beneath the camouflage of the doll, the weird woman looks out, her eyes sharp, jotting down notes on the unsuspecting fauna around her
    Mary (cactus haiku)

    ReplyDelete