In The Carpet Grove

We sit,

Tuck our skirts under.

The head waves his hat,

Tea tumbles into our saucers.

A cat grins madly,

His teeth gleaming in the sugar,

Eyes trained on the rabbit,

Who thumps his foot,

His clock in hand.

A blue caterpillar,

Sits on the edge of the kettle,

Smoke rising from below.

He leers at me,

Sneers at the rabbit,

Slides into the kettle.

A cake slaps

The side of my face.

It screams,

Eat me, eat me!

My head feels cold,

Water dripping down my face,

Whispers in my ear,

Drink me, drink me.

A key,

Tied around my neck,

Tugging furiously,

Too flimsy to take me anywhere.

Here I sit,

Going insane,

Smoke rings wave,

I smile shyly.

The hat is waved,

His face painted white,

His eyelashes orange,

Covering his gleaming eyes,

Slitted, like the cat,

Hidden in the sugar,

Tail draped in cream.

A giant woman,

Stumbles upon us.

We ask her to join,

She says to put

The poor caterpillar,

Back outside,

Wash my hair,

Put my toys away.

We don't understand,

For we are outside,

There are no toys.

Hat asks her,

If she has lost her mind.