How to Sew a Pinocchio Doll

Acknowledging the specific nature,
as in each doll,
lay out the pattern pieces
with the grain of cloth.
Cut.

A warning: don’t let the nose fool you
the way it lies
against other patterns.
It may look as big as life,
but if cut to size
and sewn artfully,
you may perceive it
as credible as any other trifling toy.

Clamp the outsized head
to the headband,
(be careful, this is the trickiest part)
turn it inside out and stuff.
Now, the nitty gritty:
stitch in big ears,
embroider a blood-red mouth agrin
and bushy eyebrows,
then, glue in
his wide-open eyes of fake felt.

Sew body, arms, legs and stuff them
with straw.
Baste the head
with thick thread
to the body.

The bigger the lie, the bigger the nose
and it can always be added to,
as long as you know
the awkward truth
that a straw-filled Pinocchio
doesn’t need a stand;
it lies
on its back
or falls flat on its nose,
until it comes apart at the seams.