|
|
Classic and Contemporary Poetry
NURSING HOME: THE DOLL, by KAREN SWENSON Poet's Biography First Line: Rouge the cracked china of her cheeks Last Line: Put her away unbroken. Subject(s): Facades; Nursing Homes; Appearances; Old Age Homes; Assisted Living | |||
Rouge the cracked china of her cheeks. Tie a pink ribbon in her hair. Dress up the ninety-year-old for a visit from her relatives. And we come in and sit beside her, uncomfortable at the living funeral. She says, "Oh yes. Yes," to everything; but her eyes fold us back gently, pale as tissue paper. Hidden behind the bedroom door, she snips gold fringe from her mother's earrings, to make a necklace for her doll's Limoges white neck. She strokes the ribbon in her hair and smiles tenderly at the wall. We leave. Flat white shoes put her away unbroken. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...OLD PEOPLE ON THE NURSING HOME PORCH by MARK STRAND NURSING HOME: THE CANARY by KAREN SWENSON NURSING HOME: THE VISIT by KAREN SWENSON OLD FOLK'S HOME, JERUSALEM by RITA DOVE THE GOLD STAR by ALBERT GOLDBARTH THANKS TO SIR WALTER by CHARLES WILLIAM BRODRIBB OLD LADIES' HOME by SYLVIA PLATH THE SUBWAY ENTRANCE by MINNIE BRUCE PRATT MENTAL CASES by LLOYD SCHWARTZ |
| |