she found
the broken toy
on the sidewalk
as she headed
home

it wasn’t much
to look at
parts
were missing
paint
had been scraped off

but something in
the sad painted eyes
spoke to her

somewhere
sometime
someone
had loved this toy
discarded it
when the magic
had fled
it’s plastic body

but she
could fix it

she was meticulous
special paints
new clothes
an exacto knife
to refine
the features
molded new hair

when it was
finished
it looked
brand new

but the things
she loved
in the original beat up doll
were gone
the new
pristine version
lacked the character
that called to her

soon the toy
found itself
discarded again
left to the elements
until the fresh paint
chipped
the clothes
tattered
the scars
resurfaced

waiting for the one
that could

love it
as it was

without needing
to remake it
from the ground

up.