dummy

I’ll channel your sincerity through

a series of paper cut-outs, doll-hearts

that I’ve invented from squirrels, mice,

baby owls. When you ask me why I’ll say

the better to eat you with, my dear…

just like the song. But I won’t (won’t)

play the wolf. Put turpentine into the

paint to stir… Hello, you know how it

works by now; the fabliau’s made you

thin thin thin. What’s that? No one’s been

pulled up by their bootstraps? Well,

you shouldn’t mix the colors so much.

I got it. There’s a heretic at the door

with an axe. Don’t answer.

Your own a length of cut-out felt

having been pulled open or picked at

till the ends frayed. A jacket or sweater

red as the map. Now chases lightning

between storms strung here or there or

the next party you leave (it). Doesn’t

trust the locals; they give bad directions.

But what about the fairies, will it trust

them? The roots of this plant are now ten

miles long. And this toadstool, will it

squat here? Hello this is Mexico. Hello

this is Berlin /you’re breaking up/ Hello

this is Germany. Do you have a longer

string? A little more please. I’m sure.