She stares in the looking-glass

her eyes are false and tired

never should have followed that

rabbit, hip-hop, down into that dream

Better, never should have fought her way

back, back to lessons and propriety

cross your ankles just so, Alice

mind your manners with guests, Alice

malice builds each day, and longing

to return, return to nonsense

rather the Cheshire’s grin, the Hatter’s madness

than the bland, the benign, the banal