dustpan

you swept me up
like saw dust
and instead of
dumping me –
all my wooden
oak shreds –
into the waste bin,
you put them
all together in
your hand and
crunched them,
to make them stay
together, of course.

from there, you found
an oak tree, and cut
off a branch – not enough
to injure it – and carved
a small wooden doll
out of it,

You gave her
a small musical instrument
of some kind, probably
a dulcimer or something
and you painted her
a little smile, red cheeks
and added me along her
hairline, adding some little
blonde curls, little shavings,
just enough, just enough.

11:33pm 4/2/23