Hatter

I saw Alice in Wonderland the other day. Everyone told me it was terrible, so I was pleasantly surprised. Not that the plot was very good (and, as one friend pointed out, it's Alice in Wonderland--it's not even supposed to have a plot), or that it will be on my shelf forever, but it made me think quite a bit, and that's what I like in a movie.

ALSO, did you notice how similar it was to the Wizard of Oz? I noticed that near the beginning and after that I couldn't get the thought out of my head, it just kept being similar. I s'pose that's a good thing--I've always loved the Wizard of Oz. Well, here's my first poem based on something else. Heaven knows if you'll like it and, like the last poem and perhaps all of April's poems, it's a bit unconventional in format. Well, Alice in Wonderland was never meant to be conventional anyway :)

Hatter
Tick. Tock. Tick.
Time passes so quick
And I mustn't be late
For such a crucial date
Tock. Tick. Tock.
And so goes the clock
But I'll throw it away
Who needs rhythm anyway?

Tick. Tick.
Whooo are youuu?
And what's up with you two?
Tock. Tock.
I didn't know that caterpillars were blue
And while we're on the topic
Why red and white? Why not red and black? Like cards?
Tick.
Why must they always be fighting?
Tock.
Poetry or prose? Are they fighting too?
Wasn't I rhyming?

Well, nevermore
...quoth the raven. Who is like a writing desk, I've heard
But all the reasons are absurd
So in ignoring them, we'll spite them
Nay, we've always got to fight them.
Off with their heads!

Mmmmm
That hatter fellow
M m m m m
It must be the glue
M
And all its Mercury
Making him so Mad
But really, he's not so bad
Besides, all the best people are mad
Or is it only the most productive?
Or the most remembered?
Who are the "best" people?

Tick tock tick
Who are the good people
Little sisters?
Biased parents?
What about the ugly grandchildren?
Nobody chooses to be ugly
Well, nobody chooses to be pretty either.
Alice.

Tick tock.
Maybe appearances deceive. Like those roses.
Tock tick.
But maybe red really is unfit
Why hearts then?
I'd rather be loved
They will respect you if they love you
...Won't they?
They respect her
Appearances indeed

What about those roses?
They don't know they're white...
Are they white?
Which alice?
Um...
A lie? Or did you even know to begin with?
Tick.
Well that was a very very very long time ago
Tock.
Time so much has happened, how could you remember?
Tick.
It happened all the same, how could you not?
Tock.

And that cat.
No obligation to anything
Space
Time
Clocks
Tick Tock
But as for the rest of us
We must indeed prepare a response
Ugly grandchildren it is
Perhaps ugly children are the root
Or no grandchildren whatsoever
What does it matter?
Tock tick

So we draw to a close
And we might as well
You've lost your muchness anyway
And up we go
Or is it down?
Darned elixer
And cake, or mushrooms
Mmmushrooms
Mmmuchness

Well, what's it all anyway?
And see you soon
Though heaven knows why I'd return
What heaven?
Whooo?