GI Joe Doll

All writers steal and borrow. I stole the premise and the form of this poem from the poet Marge Piercy and her great poem "Barbie Doll." The idea came to me after a discussion of her poem in my English 12 class a few years ago.

GI Joe Doll

This manchild was born as usual

and presented games that exploded

and GI Joes and miniature Yamaha quads

and wee capguns the color of blued steel.

Then in the madness of puberty, a classmate said

You have zits and act like a jerk.

He was hearty, acted spirited,

possessed lean abs and a thick chest,

abundant hormones and could kick a soccer ball.

He went to and fro spazzing.

Everyone saw zits and a jerk.

He was advised to grow up,

pressed to act like a man,

workout, test the dangers, never smile

and intimidate.

His spirited nature vaporized

like drops of dew in the late morning sun.

So he drank beer and smoked weed

and shut up.

In the casket displayed on flannel he lay

with the undertaker’s prosthetics glued on,

a putty colored chin and wrist,

dressed in a gray suit and black shoes.

Doesn’t he look peaceful? everyone asked.

Conquest at last.

To every teenage boy a victory.