Wonderlands

Wonderlands

I long to see behind the mask
... to see the truths behind,
to view beyond the looking glass,
with Alice on my mind

Living short, with orders tall,
with food and drink to spare
Forever feeling, large and small,
dependent, when or where

Lost pieces lined up on the board,
stained red in tooth and claw
In hearts we trust, in minds we hoard,
that's what the wonder's for

A wondering of foreign lands,
a wandering of shores
Down rabbit holes, such chaos stands
... the time that's spent is yours

'midst pockets of it, ticking down,
white rabbits scout the lead
Late as always, lapsed, we drown,
in folds of mirrors, freed

Distortions in the looking glass,
so solid does it seem,
in the end we're what we are,
we live within our dreams

Dreams beyond the mirror's edge,
where Alice holds the court
Laboured with the bets we hedge,
caught in the glaze, distraught

Watching Alice prance and pass,
once more into the breach
Locked behind the looking glass,
she dances out of reach

with lined up things impossible,
numbered more than three
We're all mad here, multiple
... or is it only me

Forever falling on my own,
down warrens as it is,
with pocket watches calling, prone,
.... the foot of the abyss

Late for dates, important, lost,
a slice of time... a shard,
but falling's not the problem, cost
... it's landing that seems hard

A dropping of defenses,
vulnerabilities displayed
Divided 'tween the senses,
behind such walls they're played

Carried on behind the latch,
the games we play are born
Cards that sometimes suit, don't match,
despite how well they're drawn

Diamonds we've mined in spades,
in clubs, hearts sail past
Through the night, such madness fades,
with memories that last

The Queen of hearts runs rampant, red,
a neon orange rinse
Somewhere there I lost my head
... and haven't seen it since

With labyrinths on offer, crazed,
for both sides to explore,
forever traipsing round her maze,
but Alice... she ignores

A heartbeat spent to proffer,
a heartbeat sent to break
A Wonderland on offer,
... alone its hers to take

A Wonderland beyond the glaze,
a maze that's all for me
Lost in a recurring gaze,
... reflections, all I see

Reflections of another life,
that hides behind a grin
Shrouded in such feline strife
the final count is in

and back home at the party,
everybody's drinking tea,
with hats quite mad and arty,
Alice sits across from me

not sure what's in this teacup,
and I'm too afraid to ask
The girl behind the make up
... the girl behind the mask