Barbie Doll
Marge Piercy

This girlchild was born as usual

and presented dolls that did pee-pee

and miniature GE stoves and irons

and wee lipsticks the color of cherry candy.

Then in the magic of puberty, a classmate said:

"You have a great big nose and fat legs."

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She was healthy, tested intelligent,

possessed strong arms and back,

abundant sexual drive and manual dexterity.

She went to and fro apologizing.

Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs

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She was advised to play coy,

exhorted to come on hearty,

exercise, diet, smile and wheedle.

Her good nature wore out like a fan belt.

So she cut off her nose and her legs and offered them up.

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In the casket displayed on satin she lay

with the undertaker's cosmetics painted on,

a turned-up putty nose, dressed in pink and white nightie.

Doesn't she look pretty? everyone said.

Consumation at last.

To every woman a happy ending.