Fortress of Pink

By. Shannon Brown

Oh little barbie in my hands

Life is not the way I planned.

​A plastic world of perfect pink,

Far from the thoughts I try to think.

While heavy steps walk down the hall,

I build a fortress out of dolls.

​You do not cry, you do not bleed,

You have the safety that I need.

Your painted smile is locked in place,

No fear across your perfect face.

​But on the rug, the stories change,

The perfect tea sets rearrange.

I make you fight, I make you fall,

To try and make some sense of it at all.

The anger that I cannot speak

Now screams through you, when I am weak.

​I crash the cars, I break the walls,

Until the quiet shadow falls.

Then straighten up your satin dress,

And hide away the chaotic mess.

​Oh little barbie, smooth and small,

You held my secrets through it all.

A tiny shield of plastic grace,

When home was not a safe place.