Teenage Mannequins

Ever since you were a little boy

You use to think to yourself

That the mysterious ways a common life

Was a commotion riding with a baby boom

And every now and then you saw faces with a smile

And by the pillow of slow decay

You could taste the sweetness of the grenadine smeared upon your bed

There was a time

When you were nine

You had those long and shady curls

Now you are bald

And way to old

To play among the girls

Mannequins in perforated petticoats

In taffetas of satin hoop crinoline

The puppeteers are working on your midlife Capri pants

And tricel scarves in pastel greens but the restless walk in his jeans

You never were as pretty as Ronny from the gym

He had a hammer for a head and a shovel for a fist

And a face of a mutilation talking just like Citizen Kane (come on, everybody!)

Now brady boys and rubber dolls, razorblades and barbie bones

Saturdays tangled up in purple cymbelines from a wedding

Are lying in your bed for those long bitter days

Nothing ever turned out like you wanted

But you know the times are changing

You're 29, past your prime

And now they're gone