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Hoffmann's Nightmare MAG

September 15, 2008
By Anonymous

A puppet, on strings of habit and expectation
turns to me
and says

“Ah, ah.”

“What is the sigh?” I ask
“Tell me
and with my gentle hands
I will heal you”

But the puppet
she says

“Ah, ah.”

“Does it mean pain?
Like a thorn in the side?
A hook in the heart?”

With body unscathed
she says

“Ah, ah.”

“Sadness?
Like a dying rose,
A broken wing?”

With tearless eyes
she says

“Ah, ah.”

She lifts up wooden
string-pulled hands
to open up her chest
like a door
on creaky hinges

I begin to shake and sob.
Inside her chest
there is nothing

“Ah, ah.” she says “Ah, ah.”

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JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 6 comments.

Mahwah said...
on Jan. 22 2012 at 4:43 pm
Mahwah, Verona, New Jersey
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
\&quot;Nothing is true. Everything is permitted.\&quot;

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It's an interesting poem. It was sad - the place where the heart should be was empty. Can we ever know what the "Ah, ah" refers to? Is the puppet trying to say anything to the person, or is the person hearing things, crazy, etc.?
bbygurl21 PLATINUM said...
on Jul. 5 2010 at 2:34 pm
bbygurl21 PLATINUM, Boston, Massachusetts
29 articles 0 photos 111 comments

Favorite Quote:
sticks n stones my brick my bones but words cant

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this poem is an amezing poem i am going 2 give you 5 out of 5 stars :) keep writting ☺☺☺
Kelsey Backus BRONZE said...
on Jun. 24 2010 at 8:47 pm
Kelsey Backus BRONZE, Wentworth, South Dakota
3 articles 0 photos 1 comment
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wow..this poem gave me the chills. i love it.
lindseymarie SILVER said...
on Nov. 27 2009 at 9:25 pm
lindseymarie SILVER, Richfield, Minnesota
6 articles 0 photos 32 comments
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Marrionettes.

This is dark, and beautiful, and the diologue is splended.

I love it.
rogue said...
on Jul. 22 2009 at 12:58 pm
i love this its so powerful. its a depressing poem and thats the beauty of it. i can picture this sad beautiful little young girl puppet.keep writing.
Senthia Lance BRONZE said...
on May. 27 2009 at 3:42 pm
Senthia Lance BRONZE, Saffell, Arkansas
1 article 0 photos 1 comment
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wow that is so cool