Poetry from the Art Deco Era

By Lola Ridge 1873-1941 anachist poet..

My doll Janie has no waist

and her body is like a tub with feet on it.

Sometimes I beat her

but I always kiss her afterwards.

When I have kissed all the paint off her body

I shall tie a ribbon about it

so she shan't look shabby.

But it must be blue -

it mustn't be pink -

pink shows the dirt on her face

that won't wash off.

I beat Janie

and beat her...

but still she smiled...

so I scratched her between the eyes with a pin.

Now she doesn't love me anymore...

she scowls... and scowls...

though I've begged her to forgive me

and poured sugar in the hole at the back of her head.

-- from Sun-Up and Other Poems