Unsettling Playthings


toothy
permanent smiles
rise from pink painted lips
the glassy eyes stare unblinking,
frozen limbs poised,
reaching

silent
tea parties held
with stuffed bears attending,
make believe mimicking real life,
tiny teacups
empty

giggles
strangely absent,
a playroom sits empty
of little girls and little boys,
plastic playmates
unnerve

shadows
across the floor
stir imagination
to believe a doll took a breath
and a glass eye
to wink

unease
motivates feet
to search for an escape
 from the small, unsettling playthings
a door opens
relief

©Susie Clevenger 2011
Photograph: Photobucket
Kerry’s Wednesday Challenge: Stephen King Quotes
“Dolls with no little girls around to mind them were sort of creepy under any conditions.” 

 ― Stephen King, Desperation
http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2011/10/kerrys-wednesday-challenge.html
I also linked my poem to
dverse poets

Comments

Kerry O'Connor said…
I think there is something sad in a discarded doll, face cracked, hair scrumpled up, forgotten at the top of a cupboard, rather like an abandoned child.
Your poem points to how eerie, their life-like personas can turn out to be. Thanks for participating in the challenge on Real Toads.
October 20, 2011 at 2:54 PM
nicolewian said…
I loved this. The picture and the poem. I used to think my dolls were alive as a child.
October 20, 2011 at 3:31 PM
Maude Lynn said…
Yikes, this is creepy!
October 20, 2011 at 8:33 PM
Marian said…
cinquain? almost? well done and creepy!
October 20, 2011 at 8:51 PM
The Unknowngnome said…
theme and words well played!
October 20, 2011 at 11:30 PM
Kay L. Davies said…
Oh yes, dolls creep me out sometimes. I loved my own, though.
Very well done!

Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel
October 21, 2011 at 10:11 AM
Sherry Blue Sky said…
I enjoyed this read.......the tone of the poem perfectly captures the creepyness of the lifeless but life-like dolls. Good one.
October 21, 2011 at 11:15 AM
Christine said…
never liked those dolls, hard to concentrate when they are staring at me
November 23, 2011 at 6:32 PM
Sheila said…
nice take on the quote - love me some stephen king
November 23, 2011 at 7:40 PM
Cathy Feaster said…
creepy...definitely reminds me of Stephen King. dolls can definitely be spooky if you let them get into your head ;)
November 23, 2011 at 7:49 PM
Brian Miller said…
shivers...dolls are creepy...love me some stephen king though...nice expansion on his thought...and great creepy texture to it...
November 23, 2011 at 8:13 PM
M. A. S. said…
That's like an episode of the Twilight Zone. Nice creepy poem.
November 24, 2011 at 10:39 AM
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