The Clockwork Girl
(sometimes I write poetry at bus stops. This was one of those times.)
A Clockwork Girl
rises at pre-
cisely six and
consults her man-
ual for her
wardrobe (changed
every nine-
ty one point three
one two five days).
She is to be
provocative
yet virginal.
Her make-up must
hide imperfect-
tions yet never
draw attention
to eyes or lips,
which could be con-
sidered entic-
ing. When she walks
about she must
be availa-
ble yet aloof
and if a gen-
tleman desires
her attention
she must be po-
lite but never
alluring. If
something bad hap-
pens, she likely
did something to
bring it upon
herself. Now and
then, a Clockwork
Girl will break
out of her routine.
She will attempt to
assert herself as an individual
and discovers
that she likes the way the world
looks a little bit more when she is
slightly out of step.
When this occurs,
the other Clockwork Girls
are quick to act, turning
on her and alerting each
other to her trespass.
They will attack her,
rip her open
so that the world
can see her gears,
rendering her
cogs and springs un
usable, and
if she cries out
in anguish or
agony, they
will ignore it.
But they are not
really to blame,
it is just the
way they are pro-
grammed, and maybe,
some think, if they
could all rebel
together they
could escape. In
stead, they destroy
one girl and a-
nother takes her
place. Because in
the end, the world
prefers
a
Clockwork
Girl.