Back then she was called Babydoll,
a spark from mommy’s fever dream;
their heaped station wagon zig-zagged
to try-outs with soulless faces.
P(r)imped in ringlets and pink ruffles,
back then she was called Babydoll.
She batted her eyes; dimpled her
way onto marquees nation-wide.
Sedatived for convenience
that by teenhood became habit.
Back then she was called Babydoll.
The offers changed, the lights now dim.
Happy Meal Lane, that sad place where
child stars roulette with powdered doom.
Where dealers and faux friends still ooh.
Back then she was called Babydoll.
Today’s offering is in the quatern form. Thank you, Shay, for the wonderful image to write to.
Shay is today’s host of The Sunday Muse.
Tao Talk 
A heartbreaking story Li
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Thank you, Sadje.
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You’re welcome
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Baby Jane Hudson, I presume?
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Shay, not sure who that is. I had Judy Garland in mind. I saw a biopic where they forced sedatives on her from an early age 😦
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In the movie What Ever Happened To Baby Jane, Bette Davis plays a rather strange weird looking old woman who had been a child star in vaudeville with a stage name of Baby Jane Hudson.
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OK thanks for the clarification, Shay. Didn’t realize that was her last name! I do remember she terrorized Joan Crawford. Was Joan her sister? I can’t remember all of the details it’s been so long since watching it.
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With Joan Crawford as well — shat sn intensely creepy and sad movie! This brought that flick to mind as I read.
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Lisa you should try to find “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane.” Bette Davis I think starred. A classic! IMO
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Saw it! Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, what a team!
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Super Team!!!!!!! and Olivia DeHavillan (Sp)
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Yes, she was another great actress. Wasn’t she in Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte with Joseph Cotton?
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OH YEAH!!!! I can still hear the theme song……
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Is this the movie where Joseph Cotton’s head rolls down the staircase?
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😂 Yup!!!!!!!!
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lol!
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There’s a trailer on You tube 😂
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Yes a sad tale indeed. It made me think of Baby Jane too. Wonderful poetry Lisa!!
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Thank you, Carrie!
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Oh, thank God! I’m not the only one who went with Baby Jane (Bette Davis). https://youtu.be/bNwzfjNkz-0
…although it could easily have brought to mind the movie “Babydoll” (a whole ‘nother story).
Nicely written. Very evocative.
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Charley, this isn’t for Baby Jane specifically (you’re dating yourself by knowing who Baby Jane is, you know) but for any child star that ages out that’s fallen on rough times (and you know there are a bunch, both female and male.) I was actually thinking of Judy Garland when I wrote it. Thank you very much. Now I need to see what you wrote!
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I didn’t this week. Not on speaking terms with muse lately.
I totally get what you were shooting for. (And actually BJ was that kind of a story.)
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Ah! OK.
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p.s. I hope “Babydoll” isn’t the title of a porn movie, but knowing porn, there is a movie with every title known to language.
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1956. Carol Baker.
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imdb doesn’t have this one. 1956 says it can’t be that pornographic lol
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https://www.google.com/search?q=imdb+baby+doll&oq=imdb+babydoll&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0i10.11561j1j8&client=tablet-android-verizon&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8
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So it is Baby Doll, 2 words, and Carroll Baker. I just read the plot and the trivia section. My my one I’m going to need to see. Thanks for the heads-up, Charley!
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Any time!
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My post is up on TSM. For what it’s worth.
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I read it and am still trying to absorb it. Looking at the woman in your poem, I guess whatever works!
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Hahaha! I guess.
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Charley I don’t see your link in Mr. Linky at TSM?
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Nope.
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a spark from mommy’s fever dream; – great line!
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Many thanks, q!
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This is sad, still happening today with court sanction. Poor Britany Spears, controlled all her performing life.
I’m naive, reading your poem on its face. A wonderfully written piece, terribly sad tale told well.
I remember “What happened to Baby Jane” but didn’t go see it. I hardly ever went to movies, about a dozen, probably less, in my whole long life. I do like stage productions with live actors, musicals are fine.
Thank you for peeking in on me.
..
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Jim, thank you for your thoughtful comment. I feel back for every one of them. I’ve watched a few things lately where they are putting kids into some very disturbing scenes in movies and tv series. I can’t help but wonder if that will compound the trauma. I enjoy live music, theater, etc. also. You’re welcome on the peek 🙂
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“Back then she was called Babydoll.
The offers changed, the lights now dim.”
the progression of this poem is writ loud and clear in a marvellous Quatern
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Laura, thank you very much. Nice to see you 🙂
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What happens way way too often to those Baby Dolls. It reminds me of those horrific beauty pageants for toddlers. Criminal. Beautiful form, beautiful write, Lisa.
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Yes, they do, Helen. I’ve seen docs on those toddler and “little miss” pageants and they have the feel of an addiction on the part of the parents. Thank you for your thoughtful comment.
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A crisp and eloquent quatrain that uses the for to convey a lingering sense of a life wasted too young.
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Thank you very much for your feedback, Hedgewitch. I appreciate it.
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I’m thinking of Britney Spears. We are voracious users. (K)
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This reminded me as well of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?
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Thank you, Linda. I just watched a clip of it and was chilled all over again.
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I remember that movie. I also remember Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte. In my teen movie going days . I find Betty Davis eyes were scary.
Happy Sunday Jade Li. Thanks for dropping by to read mine
Much💜love
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You’re welcome, Gillena.
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So powerful… You’ve captured the journey of too many child stars so well. It makes me think of Judy Garland and how the put her in a lane she didn’t want to live in.
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Thank you, Susie, I had her in mind when I wrote it.
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So well written Lisa. Grabbed me a pilled mr right through to the sad end. Strong writing my friend!
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Glad you connected with it, Rob, thank you.
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That is good story telling…in that format. Unfortunately true for a lot of them.
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Thank you, Max. Narrative poems are my favorite ones to write. I would love to have the focus and skill to write an epic poem.
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That has to be hard to combine the two like that. I enjoy them because I get the story…
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For me it’s easy to combine the two, and I think I enjoy them for the same reason.
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Very powerful and resonates with me as a loss of an innocence that was always being powdered with sexuality.
Strong statements in a poetic way.
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Navasola, thank you for the wonderful feedback. I like what you see with your eyes.
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This makes me want to cry. It reminds me most recently of Britney Spears and the question of what responsibility an audience bears for the performances/ers it consumes.
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Wyndolynne, the “starmaking machinery” (to quote Joni Mitchell) churns souls up and spits them out. We are all accessories to murder. If nobody watched, the practice would end. Thank you for your thoughtful and sensitive comment.
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Tragic and brilliantly crafted, Li! ‘P(r)imped’ conveys so much… so cleverly done!
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Thank you, Chris! I debated on putting the “r” in parentheses and decided to go with it.
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A masterful stroke!
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🙂
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That IS a great image to go with the poem.
So tragic but so common, too, that story.
“where child stars roulette with powdered doom”…….
Ooh. Chilling!
I totally see where Baby Jane came up, but this made me also think of a book called “A Certain Age” by Tama Janowitz. Not the same as a child star and all they’re put through, but the same due to inordinate youthful beauty that fades with age and what’s left of the aging woman who depended on only her looks. I think you’d like this book, Li!
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Thanks, Stacey. I think there is a lot of exploitation of the young and the vulnerable. What’s probably worst is when the person does it to themselves, which is what “A Certain Age” seems to be talking about. It does sound like a good read and I would like to see where she takes it. Adding it to my goodreads list! Thanks for the recommend.
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You are totally right.
In this book she TOTALLY does it to herself.
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Love this, Lisa. The repetition in it is perfect for a reminder of the past.
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Thank you, Sara. I had that line and I knew I wanted a repeating form.
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