chasing the white rabbit

my sister claimed it was a dream.
that’s wrong—I know what I have seen,
for nothing’s quite as it would seem—
through the looking glass.

I saw him, pocket watch in hand
behind the pane of liquid sand
and slipped through into wonderland—
chasing the white rabbit.

he disappeared, but I was caught
within the web my chase had wrought
of nonsense rhymes and bunny plots—
the way of the red queen.

we painted roses, played croquet,
sang songs with oysters on the bay,
while the white rabbit led the way—
into the looking glass.

the queen and I, we made some tarts,
each one a perfect work of art,
their absence broke the red queen’s heart—
the thief was the white rabbit.

off with his head! came the attack.
knights marched up and rooks marched back
white into red, red into black—
they followed the red queen.

I blinked, and chess turned into war,
the jabberwocky gave a roar
the dormouse even broke his snore—
behind the looking glass.

and trumpets sound a martial chord.
as I set foot onto the board,
tight in my hand, the vorpal sword—
to fight for the white rabbit.

I ate the mushroom, grew too tall,
and all the cards blew past the wall,
I picked her up, so very small—
my little doll, red queen.

so, what was what and who was right?
and who would dare deny my sight?
I chased the rabbit--he was white.
I met the queen, so full of spite.
I beat them all, I won my fight,
and came back home—and this despite
a nasty jabberwocky bite
that aches, now, even as I write
about my future—dim, or bright.
I passed behind the glass that night,
and found an old and chatty knight—
a'sitting on the gate.

line count: 48

Author's Note ▼

The last two lines are in reference to the following poem by Lewis Carroll:
http://www.poetry-archive.com/c/ill_tell_thee_everything_i_can.html

He did it much better than I can.

Prompt for: Jan 17, 2016 ▼

Subject or Theme: White Rabbits, Looking Glasses, or Red Queens

Word(s) to Include: two different chess pieces (ie; rook, pawn, knight, etc), (or any derivatives of these words)
Forbidden Word(s): time, late, (or any derivatives, compound or hyphenations of these words)
Additional Parameters: 20 lines minimum
Remember, do not use forbidden words ANYWHERE, including title or the brief description.