The Rabbit Hole (Poetry)

It looms — appearing darker with each dream
and down I follow — careless of the fall
long after Alice — hush my childhood’s scream
that rabbit’s hiding — pocket watch and all.

The grainy blackness tangles me in roots
and soil’s aroma cloys the humid air
deadening all sound — my protest mutes
to swallowed words — a short and silent prayer.

Too curious by far — I’ll pay the price
the cat has vanished leaving a wide smile
she’s gone to hunt for fish or maybe mice
such riddles keep me guessing for a while.

The tunnel’s deeper than I thought at first
with rows of cupboards crammed with useful things
an eager “Drink Me” bottle quenches thirst
there’s sealing wax and cabbages and kings...

A chessman asks abruptly “Password, please!”
I tap some keys (the white knight nods and winks)
then half a dozen pawns fall to their knees
reality’s illusion slowly shrinks.

The Hatter has a price tucked in his hat —
ten and six — just over fifty p
I sit in the same chair in which he sat
whatever time, it’s always time for tea...

I have a cup, another “Eat Me” pill
slide safe inside the story — freed from pain
and doze beside some trickling sunlit rill
then off back down the rabbit hole again.