See Me Let Me Be Me Barbies (Poem)

See Me  Let Me  Be Me  Barbies

See me be:

Anemone Barbie in my Christian Louboutin.

I'm inspired, like the ad says, head to toe,
done up nice in my lime green with pretty purple bow.

Shall I channel Nefertiti? Maybe Marilyn Monroe?
Get a quick make-over before my next show?

Limit. Five babes per order. While supplies last.

I'm va-va-voom in a catsuit, too, and fast.

Let me be:

Your Fantasy Barbie, say, The Scarlet McCaw.

Lavishly embellished in striking red shantung,
I can be anyone's bright vision, real top-of-the-rung.

The picture of perfection. Such a deal! I glow.
I come with my very own parrot and a dress cut low.


Arrgh. Away with you, Pirate Barbie, with your better deal.
One look at your price tells 'em I'm no steal.

But I admit you're arresting in your swashbucklin' style,
buckled boots, brocade coat, gold hoop earring, no bile.

Velvet breeches, some ruffles, and lots of lace,
such fancy frocks play up your saucy buccaneer's face.


Be me:

I do that diversity thing oh so well.

There's the I that's Miss Astronaut
who sashsays into space,

that Black beauty in afro and Stylin' Hair Grace.
There's the I can be Barbra or Cyndi or Joan

stepping out with Midge while Allan's alone.
I travel the world, I pack light as can be,

I'm Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, Statue of Liberty.
My theme's not just France, nor only Italy.


Need a Registered Nurse? No worries, you see;
I carry my accoutrements wherever I be.

For Pan Am I fly, and always first class.
Call me Stewardess once, I respond in a flash.

But a secret confession I do have to make,
I'm a Harley-Davidson Barbie when I catch a break.

Decked out in my finest white biker chic,
I can yell at the wind, I'm not meek! Not a freak!

And Ken, my beautiful dumb blonde Ken,
of all men, he just holds tight for the ride of his life.

Text © 2010 Maureen E. Doallas. All Rights Reserved.
___________________

You can find here the entire Barbie collection that inspired my poem. The names of the dolls correspond to the italicized words in the poem.

And, speaking of poetry and Barbie, please take note of the release of a new poetry collection, Barbies at Communion, by Marcus Goodyear, senior editor for TheHighCalling.org and a friend. Marcus has published poems in Geez magazine, 32 Poems, and Stonework Journal and when he's not otherwise detained can be found writing at Good Word Editing, where you'll find this page devoted to his book.

Our friend Glynn Young reviewed Marcus' collection here.

TweetSpeakPoetry, where I hang for biweekly Twitter poetry jams, is celebrating the publication of Marcus' debut book with a writing activity (like the one I did here) and a giveaway: a signed copy of Barbies at Communion. Details are here. Be sure to join us for a bit of fun!