Marionette

Dusty on this chair
Is where I?ve left myself
Forgive me,
Sometimes I forget where I put me
And sometimes I forget I have to breathe.

Kind of difficult,
When I have this keyed aberration
Sprouting from my spine.

You set me up as however,
First in a paisley pout,
Eyes downtrodden,
Then in a maddening Cheshire grin.

You wind me up
And let me go.

I was designed for your liking
Forgive me,
I malfunction;
I can?t help being half sentient
And half deadened wood.

It so happened you could string me up
Because I was carved while still quite fresh
Young sapling
Marred for an entertaining life.

A failure in obliging
Hated in success?

Please master,
Tell me one thing
I beg for an explanation-
Why did you grant me thought
But bar me from reality?

Tell me
Is this what dying is like?
Will death mean anything to me,
If in my own puppet show life
I have never lived?

If everything fades to black
And my memory,
My useless talent lies,
Will it then release me?

For I can?t stand living
If I live to be
Your personal marionette,
Made for people?s folly-
Failing every time.

I can?t stand being this pretty, witty
Bit of nothing,
If it means
I will never be my own.

By Jennifer Olegario ?