POETRY BY ABIGAIL TABER

Taxidermy Bambi

I am a taxidermy bambi;

pretty pink fur and preserved rotting flesh

skinned and placed upon a form—

turned into a display.

Stuffed with glitter to stand upright and

seeing through glass eyes.

Preened to perfection,

reflective jewels and luxurious linens

hung purposefully from my pelt to cover each stitch.

Lenses flash for posing and posting

beautifying my trauma

turning it into your porn.

Mount me on your wall and feed,

double-tap my sweet doe face—

I look so alive, don’t I?

It’s amazing how the bullet wound from the kill shot can be

so easily photoshopped away!

You’d never guess that after the camera clicks

I simply become just decor…

That I am nothing but the skin of a done-up dead deer.

Abigail Taber is an aspiring poet and author. Currently residing in her native state of Texas, she enjoys exploring transgressive and untapped topics, particularly mental health, feminism, and spirituality.