It might be the pungent steam from a pot
steeping herbs meant to bend its sippers'
minds to potent effect, or an unanticipated
digestive reckoning from that mawkishly flavored
brand of store-bought paste they pass as butter.
However the dough arises, their collective
recollection of storied events, lengthwise sliced
and ritually rehearsed, hops facilely on the hump
of a bucking and overtly nonsensical wind.
Tea parties with slippery perspectives
have been shown quite clinically to induce
heightened sensitivity in participants,
so it's prudent to set about tidying the facts:
The hatter, it's become clear, shifted one place
too many and disappeared with a trace -- leaving
behind his hat to nobody's great advantage.
Lacking a wearer, the headgear's reputation for
producing madness has rapidly diminished.
The march hare pulls off his change in a very
separate and seasonal way: the bunny's
bottom half somersaults its top to occupy
both his spot and the hatter's vacated seat.
The dormouse upon its latest arousal
is re-visioned to be small, but not much mouse
at all. He's plush with the long-in-the-ear habit
of a pink stuffed rabbit, which the crusading hare
furiously declares is most curious, casting
doubt on the vermin's commitment to "no room."
Alice remains foremost in tact and is given
a bonus of two spare feet complete with slackened
bootstraps. She keeps them and her other luxury
items well-sheltered behind a stout table leg.
The absentee hatter doesn't dare shame her
with a radio-show call-in decrying
the waste. She's generously agreed to
cover the medical expenses from his firm flop.
This piece is written for the Poetry on Wednesday Prompt 4 and inspired by the painting "Feet Beneath The Table" by Charles Blackman (pictured above). There may or may not be a political metaphor at work here.
13 comments:
Some great and luscious language in this one Francis. Decidedly old-school and delicious. This seems both old and new. "Tea parties with slippery perspectives" is a great line. I think you've done a good job of maintaining a complex narrative thread through-out without losing steam.
Phew, this is an in-depth report on the picture, nicely told, although I wonder if the simple truth about the Hatter is that he drank the tea and it made him invisible, or maybe like the poison made him very small - phew, he's under the hat!"
I like getting the facts right before attending the slippery perspective tea parties...hmm I see you've been to those too.The hallucinogenics were obviously in the tea.Forget the medical expenses.Alice is a bitch. She wouldn't pay for anything.This is great Francis.
It might be the pungent steam from a pot
steeping herbs meant to bend its sippers'
minds to potent effect
Yes! That's why tea is so popular in some countries. I knew it!
Fun take on the prompt, Francis!
Francis this is just like tripping.
Not that I would know anything about that sort of thing mind you ;) great post!
Pamela
Hi Frncis,
Your sixth stanza is my favourite out of all the flim flam Alice philosophy.
you know -- I didn't even notice the absent hatter! (maybe he was still in hollywood, dvd release-party more important than wonderland now?)
I love the factual reporting-style of this, Franscis!
o. the madder's hat. I thought that was a cup and saucer, but then I was distracted by that single maryjane in the midst of all those pumps and paws.
you have so many neat bits: mawkishly flavored store bought paste, bucking ans overtly nonsensical, slippery perspectives. those are my favorites
@Gerry Thanks... I think my language will always be most influenced by the classics, since that's what I gravitate toward as a reader, and that creates an interesting contradiction since I like to write about contemporary situations.
@Andy I never thought of that... he could be under the hat, though there are extra feet mucking about below the table too.
@Rall Alice can be a bit snotty, but I hear she knows what side the bread's buttered on.
@Paul I'm still searching for those kind of tea houses here in the States.
@Pamela Me either... all my psychedelic trips have been art induced.
@Derrick I've had flim flam on the brain lately.
@Angie The red carpet trumps everything.
@briarcat It was hard keeping track of all of those feet.
Well, above and beyond the fantastic writing and feel of this, you've put together a really fine string of sounds and consonants that deserve to be read aloud. Too bad we're all spread out around the place. Very nice poem!
a most enjoyable perspective of painting... details that appear seemingly oh so innocent but place each character entwined with the other... touche, the hatter-less hat is dynamite...
I love the line 'a bonus of two spare feet'. I noticed them but couldn't work them in to my poem; I'm glad you did.
http://thelaughinghousewife.wordpress.com
@JD Thanks. One day I'll break down and record myself reading one of these.
@omb It's been a treat to read all of the different takes on the painting, and several drew upon details of it that I hadn't noticed at the first viewing.
@tlh I wonder how Blackman would react to all of these poems.
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