You are a barbie-doll
You are the fairy on the Christmas tree
Wrapped tight in a wedding dress,
An ornamental toilet roll holder
You flash your white, shining teeth
For all the room to see
You do not smile with your eyes
Everyone is invited to see you in your triumph
Cleopatra must have applause
As her barge arrives in port,
Her long train flowing behind her,
Delighting in the choruses of ‘doesn’t she look lovely?’
As middle-aged women,
Old enough to be your mother howl into handkerchiefs
You flash your gnashers for all to see
But you never smile with your eyes
The people who are there are the ones who matter
The socialising, the beautiful, the respected,
The semi-well loved and those who will not be forgotten
The clowns, the jesters, the drunken exhibitionists
Here they all are in their splendour
As they make a big hoopla in your name
The prisoners in the dungeons stay chained to the walls
Rusted chains holding them securely in place
It’s only the ones who matter, for whom your flash your perfect white teeth
You never smile with your eyes
A Listful of Horrors 