Alice, the Morning After
What a dope I was not to see
the mountain of escalators going backwards
the Tyrannosaurus head
of nuts and bolts
the desert of creamed corn
& the rats
all those rats
that covered every surface between us
fierce as cherries.
Did I think it would be a cakewalk
with the sun going backwards
down a hall of mirrors
& the pitchforks
all pointing my way?
When I woke up at last
there was a commotion in the hall
the hotel was burning
and the staff informed me
that a Mr. Lightning Bolt had called
in the night.
I rolled out of bed
the floor was covered with sea urchins
and the air smelled of onions.
I was seeing double
but the two images didn't match.
I reached you by phone
hoping to explain
but when I opened my mouth
something like the soundtrack
of all the devils in the world came out.
I sat there looking at the hands
lying like plaster casts in my lap
and laughed along.
There was a beating on the door
and a frantic man insisting
"Your head is ready!
Your head is ready!"
What could I possibly have said to that?
I'm asking you,
yes, you!
Well, I didn't know either.
So I said nothing.
Eventually, he went away.
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