puppets

You had trunks
and trunks
of puppets -
wood
and felt
and plastic
and foam
and rubber

I asked if you were
a ventriloquist
but you angrily told me
you weren't

As you pulled out
your latest creation
I noticed it had a
smashed in head
and a missing foot

It blinked at me
as if to tell me to run;
I nodded
while bending down
to tie my shoes
looking at the locked door

He's a gem, the puppet said
while shaking its head at me

You smiled
and looked out upon
your other cases
full of controlled adoration
and took a hammer
to the puppet's head
once more