“Mad Hatter’s Tea-party”

by Margaret Royall

She hears it in the night, the creaking floor,

the whispering on the stairs, muffled footsteps

in the attic.

She pulls the covers over her head, inserts

her earplugs, sings to herself, tra-la-la, la-di-da… 

diversion strategies that never work.

As someone forces open the bedroom door 

she curls up in a fetal ball, whimpers softly,

afraid of what’s to come. 

The light is switched on. She waits, breath held 

like fizz in a bottle of lemonade…and then

the stereo starts to play a marching tune.

She reaches for her favorite rabbit comforter, 

but he’s not there. She crosses herself…

A giant shadow throws back the curtains,

laughs at her as she trembles beneath the sheets.

“You silly girl, Alice, get up, get dressed, we’re late!

Today’s the annual Wonderland Party.

You’ve shrunk, I’ve grown, it’s time to take tea

with the Madhatter and me, your own White Rabbit!”

Margaret Royall’s work has featured in journals and anthologies in print and online, most recently Impspired, Dreich, Black Bough Poetry, and Sarasvati. She has five books of poetry to her name. She won one of Hedgehog Press’ collection competitions in May 2020 and ‘Where Flora Sings’ was subsequently nominated for the Laurel Prize. Her memoir ‘The Road To Cleethorpes Pier’ was published by Crumps Barn Studio in May 2020. She has won or been s/listed in several competitions and featured as a guest on acclaimed blogs. Her latest collection, ‘Immersed in Blue’, was published December 2021 by Impspired Press. A regular performer at open mic events, she leads a Nottinghamshire women’s poetry group and can be found on the following platforms: 

Website: https://margaretroyall.com/ 

Twitter:@RoyallMargaret

Instagram: @meggiepoet 

Author blog page: Facebook.com/margaretbrowningroyall