Home » Poems » David Kavanagh » Porcelain Doll

Porcelain Doll

Porcelain doll, with a face so pretty a country gal, ran away to the city Worked in a bar, dancing on tables beat shovelling sh-it, in Pa’s stables Looks for love, but only finds bums lowlife gamblers, in rundown slums Go back home not a chance One day soon find romance Porcelain doll, life’s becoming gritty rent’s due, ain’t nothing in her kitty All knocked up, mascara streaking bloodshot eyes, skin’s unappealing Sleeps in the pines, winter it snows crystallised tears, angel eyes froze Barely alive baby’s dead No way back no warm bed Porcelain doll, face’s the committee lunatic asylum, nobody shows pity Shock treatment, four hourly dose’s prison guard lesbians, with halitosis broken doll, made one bad decision they chipped her head, thin incision Eyes don’t blink stare at space No expression just a doll’s face By David Kavanagh

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Christopher Flaherty

Date: 8/14/2022 4:30:00 PM

Sylvia Bell Jar

David Kavanagh
Date: 8/15/2022 2:17:00 AM

Perhaps Christopher, but I had more in mind people being put into these institutions, for making one bad call in life, our societies were rarely forgiving to young women back in the day, even now in some countries they throw them into rivers like waste, cheers David

Susan Ashley

Date: 8/6/2022 10:03:00 AM

Dear David, your poignant pen spills potent and harrowing imagery of a wide-eyed girl. Such sadness in the dark poetic beauty of your poem. A double standard in society subtly exposed with finesse. Congratulations for POTD honor. A powerful and worthy choice. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

David Kavanagh
Date: 8/6/2022 12:08:00 PM

Thank you so much Susan, your critique is always welcome and truthful, I do indeed tend to expose the double standards of our human civilisation in my poems, this particular one is purposely crude and raw, to reflect my distaste at the brutal methods used by society to make it’s very own self made problems go away, cheers David

Suzanne Delaney

Date: 8/5/2022 5:08:00 PM

Late Congrats on your POTD. a sad portrayal of what is a too often true. Well done, David.

David Kavanagh
Date: 8/6/2022 12:53:00 AM

Thank you SuZ, this one is indeed a tragic case that’s all to familiar, cheers David

Jennifer Proxenos

Date: 8/5/2022 9:26:00 AM

i almost knew that you would get poem of the day for this pretty dolly from the farm who came to the city - she was warned and took no heed - what a miserable ending she met . 'Eyes don't blink, stare at space, No Expression, Just a doll's face. Congratulations David my friend on your POTD hope you had a wonderful day, sorry for late reply, blame our business Proto Personnel, possessive, reluctant to let me do my thing which is writing poetry reading and commenting Hugs and blessings, Jennifer.

David Kavanagh
Date: 8/5/2022 12:55:00 PM

Heya Jennifer, I watched the movie musical Chicago a few weeks back, probably gave me some ideas for this one, as the city was so make or break for budding beauty queens, so many of them ended in tragedy, all washed up, or abused in prison and lunatic asylums, thank you for such an uplifting comment, cheers David

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 7/31/2022 11:59:00 PM

Wow David! This is chilling! One wrong decision can make all the difference. I have known a few people who took the wrong path and they never recovered. So sad. This is an excellent poem that packs an emotional punch! Congratulations on having it honored for POTD! It is very deserving. Blessings xxoo

David Kavanagh
Date: 8/1/2022 12:58:00 AM

Thank you so much Connie, indeed one naive decision, can have devastating consequences on a young woman’s life, more so in the recent past, the big cities and civic institutions did nothing to help them, only destroying their lives permanently, a sad reflection on humanity, cheers David

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 7/30/2022 4:33:00 PM

oh my what a powerful poem this is. And I see it got POTD. Well deserved. Congrats.

David Kavanagh
Date: 7/31/2022 1:19:00 AM

Thank you Andrea, I am delighted with the POTD, and how well it was received, probably mid last century in mind, but I’m sure it’s still relevant in today’s society, perhaps just dealt with better by professional accountable people, in some countries anyway, cheers David

Valsa George

Date: 7/30/2022 3:36:00 AM

Deeply felt the undertones of this highly metaphoric poem ! You have poignantly depicted the plight of girls seeking refuge in unholy places and made to drink the bitter potion of life.... finally ending up in a kind of passive resignation unable to feel, hope and dream ! A powerful poem that tugs at the heart strings ! Congratulations on this well deserved POTD

David Kavanagh
Date: 7/30/2022 5:22:00 AM

Thank you Valsa, These young pretty runaway girls are victims of an unforgiving society, so many of them were swept away by the promises of predators, and then swept under the carpet of brutal institutionalism and held accountable for making an naive adolescent decision to do something better in life, cheers David

Anitha Jayasankar

Date: 7/30/2022 2:58:00 AM

Such a poignant yet inspiring write David... Congratulations on your POTD honor... God bless... ~ Ani

David Kavanagh
Date: 7/30/2022 5:09:00 AM

Thank you Anitha, i’m delighted you felt this one inspiring, and poignant, Im only too aware of the way young women were/are treated, for nothing more than having a naive ambition, to do something better with their lives, cheers David

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 7/30/2022 2:38:00 AM

- Congratulations on your p.o.t.d., David ) - Well done - // Anne-Lise :)

David Kavanagh
Date: 7/30/2022 5:03:00 AM

Heya Anne Lise, I was delighted getting POTD esp. with this particular one, means a lot to me, cheers David

Sotto Poet

Date: 7/29/2022 6:29:00 PM

David, you have spoken a genuine and sincere truth that many people can relate to on some level. Your writings capture the agony and sorrow that results from poor decisions made in life. Congratulations on your POTD! This kind of thing occurs all too often to girls who move to the city in the hopes of finding success but instead encounter misery, tragedy, and even death. Wish you doing well my friend.

David Kavanagh
Date: 7/30/2022 1:54:00 AM

Thank you Lasaad, I’m doing good but haven’t been actively writing very much, these tragic situations are probably dealt with better nowadays, but in the recent past were swept up by society and quite literally locked away, the institution’s were a law onto themselves, and all sorts of nightmarish horror unfolded cheers David

Brandy Nicole

Date: 7/29/2022 6:08:00 PM

"No expression, just a doll’s face." So sad that many in the world are frozen- stuck in silent mode. This poem is so much more than that. Like this thought . . . "Porcelain, with a face so pretty." Depending on your looks to get you through life, will lead you down a dangerous path. David, you have penned such a powerful poem. Congratulations my dear friend, on Poem of the Day. My best to you. ~ Brandy

David Kavanagh
Date: 7/30/2022 1:42:00 AM

Heya Brandy, thank you for stopping by with congratulations, some girls are precocious but still naive enough to think looks will get them stardom and lasting romance, this fallacy can lead to untold tragedy and usually did, especially more so when the parasites descended around them, in the past society didn’t help them, depression and heartbreak was misdiagnosed as psychosis, the institutions did the rest and sealed their fate, cheers David

Panagiota Romios

Date: 7/29/2022 12:36:00 PM

David! Find a composer. This is terifically musical and a fav! The story contained herein is beyond excellent, Congratulations on such and original write.You are an inspiration. Way to go. Great POTD..wow! Panagiota xxx

Panagiota Romios
Date: 7/29/2022 2:17:00 PM

Yes, but don't lose it!!! Panagiota xxx

David Kavanagh
Date: 7/29/2022 1:57:00 PM

I better keep my eye out for you, Lol,

Panagiota Romios
Date: 7/29/2022 1:04:00 PM

Keep up the brutal honesty. I love it..You have gained a follower in me. So happy I found you this glorious day. Smiles. Panagiota xxx

David Kavanagh
Date: 7/29/2022 1:00:00 PM

Thank you Pangie and for the Fave as well, I try to be brutally honest in my poems, I had a melancholic tune in mind when writing, but it was always going to be a poem, I appreciate your visit, and delighted it inspired you, cheers David

Michael Tor

Date: 7/29/2022 11:44:00 AM

David you have expressed a raw, heartfelt truth that is experienced by many. Your words describe the pain and suffering of bad choices made in life. Unfortunately they are sometimes repeated again, and again. It is a sad reality. Congratulations on being recognized and Honored by receiving Poem Of The Day.

David Kavanagh
Date: 7/29/2022 12:49:00 PM

Thank you so much Michael for stopping by with such kind comments, I purposely used raw and blunt language to emphasise the torment and brutality these runaway beautiful young women faced in our unforgiving cities, cheers David

Robert Gorelick

Date: 7/29/2022 11:33:00 AM

Young naive and vulnerable, so many girls trying to find themselves wind up in trouble. Big cities have a habit of grinding up the lost and innocent. Congratulations on POTD! Robert

David Kavanagh
Date: 7/29/2022 12:41:00 PM

Thank you Robert, you sum up the essence of my poem perfectly, big cities alongside the institutions destroy these young vulnerable people that naively try to make a go at life, cheers David

Ann Peck

Date: 7/29/2022 11:15:00 AM

Wow ~ what a poem! Unfortunately very true so often. I love your "doses" rhyme with "halitosis" :)) Congratulations on your win!

David Kavanagh
Date: 7/29/2022 11:31:00 AM

Thank you Anne, that particular rhyme seemed to be exactly what I was looking for, in that stanza, hopefully this systemic abuse of runaway young women is in the past, but we all know it continues in certain countries, cheers David

Paghunda Zahid

Date: 7/29/2022 10:47:00 AM

So intense.. So well penned... Congratulations on your well deserved win

David Kavanagh
Date: 7/29/2022 11:16:00 AM

Thank you Paghunda, unfortunately so true as well, these young women were totally let down and abused by our societies, cheers David

Gershon Wolf

Date: 7/29/2022 9:19:00 AM

Gosh, go to the city to seek fame and glory: What could possibly go wrong?! lol. David, you've detailed it brilliantly here. Congrats on POTD and Happy Weekend. ~ Gershon

David Kavanagh
Date: 7/29/2022 11:09:00 AM

Thank you Gershon, Prodigal sons perhaps were welcomed home with open arms, naive daughters with a baby, or lobotomy perhaps not so much, city life is/was indeed unforgiving, cheers David

I Am Anaya

Date: 7/29/2022 8:30:00 AM

So many come to "Tinsel Town," valley of the dolls, where big dreams come true. Yet their sad truths begin with men like Harvey Weinstein and end tragically. Congratulations on POTD David Kavanagh!!

David Kavanagh
Date: 7/29/2022 9:25:00 AM

Absolutely Anaya, I actually had that kind of predator image in mind whilst writing this, I’m delighted at last some of these monsters are being held to account, in the past society brushed all this under the carpet, and institutionalised the innocent, thank you so much for stopping by, cheers David

L Milton Hankins

Date: 7/29/2022 7:28:00 AM

David, your poem is extremely well-done on a deeply tragic theme. Congratulations on P.O.T.D.! This sort of thing happens all too often to girl going to the city to find success only to find heartache and tragedy and, yes, sometimes death.

David Kavanagh
Date: 7/29/2022 9:16:00 AM

Thank you Milton, I’m delighted this one in particular was awarded POTD, alone in society the cards always seem stacked against young women, cheers David

Susan Lawrence

Date: 7/29/2022 7:26:00 AM

Wow David … intense and beautiful in its expression . Such a sad story . Wonderful write . Congratulations on POTD! Susan :)

David Kavanagh
Date: 7/29/2022 9:09:00 AM

Thank you Susan, It sometimes saddens me to write about these brutal realities of life, and how one naive decision can have such devastating consequences, more so for young women, cheers David

Paulette Calasibetta

Date: 7/29/2022 6:47:00 AM

Congratulations on your thought provoking "Porcelain Doll"~ your poem reflects the harsh truth of those who believe the grass will be greener only to find themselves in the compost heap. Great write. :)Paulette

David Kavanagh
Date: 7/29/2022 9:02:00 AM

So true Paulette, life really ain’t so pretty when it comes down to the nitty gritty, although I have to admit it can be a lot more severe for women, thank you so much, cheers David

Jeff Kyser

Date: 7/29/2022 6:41:00 AM

When you look back on your life, sometimes you say, "yeah, it was sh*t, but at least it was stable sh*t", lol. Congrats on your POTD.

David Kavanagh
Date: 7/29/2022 8:28:00 AM

Well it’s true for me Jeff, I started out in abattoirs, so it really was everywhere, thank you for stopping by, cheers David

Deb M

Date: 7/29/2022 6:26:00 AM

Yay David…..well deserved POTD for your wonderful poem! Debx

David Kavanagh
Date: 7/29/2022 8:22:00 AM

Yay indeed Deb, was delighted to find this made POTD earlier, thank you so much, cheers David

Bill Baker

Date: 7/29/2022 6:03:00 AM

Congratulations on your POTD, David. Etching imagery of the tragedies they most face when they runaway to the big city. As a society, we failed these poor soul, as we do today with those like this "Porcelain Doll" and the homeless. Thanks for reminding us of something meaningful that needs to be addressed, especially in big cities. This message needs to be heard. A poet friend in Texas, Bill

David Kavanagh
Date: 7/29/2022 8:20:00 AM

Thank you Bill, I honestly believe we learn so much more about society from the brutal truth, rather then the truth it actually pretends to offer, cheers David

Heidi Sands

Date: 7/29/2022 5:53:00 AM

Congratulations for this great POTD David :)

David Kavanagh
Date: 7/29/2022 6:00:00 AM

Thank you Heidi, I’m delighted with the POTD accolade, hope your keeping well, cheers David