Ken

A male response to Mary Piercy's 'Barbie Doll'

Ken

As a child it's adorable
Playing house and Changing wardrobe
He has no lust for Joe
He despises the members of the Fantastic Four
He is happy his mother said
But a down cast fixed to his father's head

Eventually he grew closer to the mold
Still clinging to the games of old
But the other boys don't play with dolls
The class laughs as one of them calls
"Hey Billy you are a sissy"

Sticks and stones can break my bones
But those words still hit home
In high school it only got worse
'Cause that's when children learn to curse
He hears in the hall each day
"Hey that Billy kid is gay"

Crying and running from life itself
Into the woods to kill himself
But before the noose is over the tree
He is beaten to death by three
As life leaks from the body they drag
They cheer "Rest in pieces Billy the fag."