Anna Cates
The Red Queen
halo of the moon
one nonplussed puss that Cheshire Cat
but this time you are Alice
that insufferable dodo bird
you must choose your own adventure
but what kind of choice is that, you wonder
fists clenched, beholding a dark path
compounded with thunder and lightning
and you wonder more and more
for this is wonderland, not to be confused
with wonderful, and not to suggest
you don’t feel confused
for everything confounds you
clouds you like smoke rings
till you wax motion sick
tossed by ocean waves
not in a boat but as a castaway
a throwaway who’s lost her flotsam
you hop on top a Mock Turtle
for it’s the only ride and the hour is late
you sail closer, closer, closer
to a dark and nebulous fate
rustling sea oats
mother of pearl horizon
tide’s end
the inroads and inlands
inside of us
About the Author
Anna Cates lives in Ohio with her two cats, Freddie and Fifi, and teaches writing, literature, and graduate education online. Her most recent poetry collections include The Golem & the Nazi (Red Moon Press) and The Journey (Wipf & Stock).