JonBenet Ramsey, America's Most Famous Little Girl

by Joyce Carol Oates

Originally published in The Paris Review, Spring 2001.
Copyright © by Joyce Carol Oates

A poem too can be a garrote.—Anon.

Though you learned the dance routines they made you learn
and you were 1996 Colorado State All-Star Kids Cover Girl
and you were 1996 America's Royal Little Miss
and you were 1996 Little Miss Charlevoix
and 1996 National Tiny Miss Beauty

it's never enough.

See also:

"The Mystery of JonBenét Ramsey"

My Sister, My Love: The Intimate Story of Skyler Rampike

page address:
http://jco.usfca.edu/jonbenet.html