—BLESS THE BEASTS AND THE CHILDREN

 

The Ventriloquist’s Dummy

 

For a moment 

she was perfect 

until she wasn’t 

the doctor not exactly 

saying Downs 

though we knew 

when she grinned 

and you blanched 

before eventually finding

the type of parents who 

take in kids like this

 

So now I 

sit on your left leg 

same as every night

your hairy hand

a brand 

on my spine 

jerking a string 

that’s not there

while I wear 

a mouthful of 

broke-off teeth

turned to chalk 

the choking kind

every unsaid word 

a curdled scream 

neither of us can hear