Paper Dolls

Paper dolls are simple things born of

pre-vision

imagination

just plain happening

Plan and cut we are told or not told

but we

Plan and cut

Two little girls plan and cut

Both paper dolls are paper dolls

Both have exercised mind and hand

Both have succeeded

One decides that hers is better

Announces her decision

to the other

Announces her partner's defects

of mind and hand

Announces her intention

to correct her partner

Announces her decision

to the teacher

The teacher weighs all manner of things

Family situations broken and unbroken

Stress

Ability to withstand criticism

Temperment

The time until the lunch line

The need to press on to greater matters

And

Decides

The paper doll

Perfect in its execution of

Its maker's imagination

Can only

Wait

Paper dolls are not real