Emily Porter
At tea by the river, I finally said “Alice,
Oh Alice, may I ask you if you wonder?
About that place that you ventured in
your mind from when you were younger.
Do you fall into a rabbit hole of memories
of all the triumphs and glories
or do you find those pleasantries are
overshadowed by echoes of miseries?
You were only an innocent young girl
swept into an upside down, mad world.
Grown high to the sky with a whirl,
then shrunk down low in the shadow of time.
Do you think about how you were led astray,
in a twisty and turny and mysterious maze?
I feel bad, Alice, that your heart was played by
a woman’s madness caused by a crown set ablaze.
How did you find the courage to be so brave
and stand up to the tyranny ‘till you could escape?
But I’m so glad you’re here, down by the lake.
Not there in Wonderland, but with me, awake.
Though, do you wonder about that place?
Do you think that past can ever be replaced?
Sorry, if I’ve asked too many things.
I’m just curious about your ends and beginnings.
Alice? Oh Alice. You’ve fallen asleep once again.
Dream a good dream and when you wake,
tell me who, where, why, and when you went?
Please tell me about Wonderland.”