Marionette
by Hadley Bruno
College of Charleston
Hadley Bruno, a senior at The College of Charleston, is an Integrated Studies major. She hopes to make use of her areas of study, creative writing and studio art, to write and illustrate children's books after graduating in May of 2026. In her poems and short stories, she strives to show the world through her eyes to the reader, and bridge gaps in understanding.
I danced by your strings. You pulled and pushed; I jumped and swayed. But my strings were torn, and you said, “she’s damaged.” My strings were torn, and I said, “I’m free.” I ran and ran. I could not run fast enough to escape your pull. I was captured. My porcelain cracked right down the middle. My beautiful face marred, my value diminished. You looked disgusted, repulsed. My strings were repaired by your hands. Your movements became sharper, treatment became harsher, words became louder. I danced by your will. You pulled me. You pushed me. I danced through tears. One day when no one was watching, fire reignited. I opened the scissors’ teeth around my docile strings.
I felt your last pull
Are strings lonely when severed?
My fingers closed. SNIP.