...The Very Next Day.... (as in "The Cat Came Back")

. . . The Very Next Day . . .
as in "The Cat Came Back". . .
on a whim
just for fun, curiosity too
& because she could
guardian on strike or vacation or high
why not?
seemingly harmless, almost innocent really
100 times before
practice, she had
on a different level, this one
clandestine rendezvous
inspired by an elegant dispatch
delivered via King’s messenger
imperceptive in her naivete
she went
gone
away
out
for a walk
for a while
oblivious and blinded
should have brought a cane
to stop the fall
to find the way
armor forgotten behind the door
down the steps
into a daunting labyrinth
broken clocks
hands salute & wave goodbye
as they smile
one-way ticket purchased by a stranger-turned . . . other
retired street lamps from a time gone by
stand guard on the deserted path
silent watchmen
no light for her
illumination of her own making
a match alone in the Milky Way
blackest nights, impenetrable obscurity
masquerade balls with costumes ornate
solitary attendee, by invitation only
no place to hide or be
immense & vast vulnerability
discarded charade of a story no more
no longer hers
to tell or breathe or seek
fraudulent memories
deception incomplete
so close
almost
nearly
such a masterpiece!
refund denied, exchanges refused
keep on, go
get lost
she is
gone
away
out
no bread crumbs behind her
devoured by once upon a time
that has dissipated
her shadow an impossibility
yet true just the same
drink up, swallow it down
walk on
evolution defines the morning light
stars whispering in her hair
caterpillars into butterflies
she’s lost her legs & gained her wings
hesitant and infantile then
marble and granite carved
soon forgotten sand & dirt
stems for fools unchanged
smiles stolen from a broken timepiece
criminal in mind, thief of time
only on
fairy tales unfulfilled & poured down the drain
attempted truths found the lies
to no avail
fantasy overflows, overwhelming stain
all-consuming ache
never the same, not this round
if only for the cane
all the way back to Timbuktu
Magellan as a captain couldn’t change courses
riddles & rhymes & childhood dreams
erasers instead of cures
verbal placebos on the black market in Mexico
mule or an ass, puddy or a tat
which one are you?
rehab under the big top when no one is spying
gymnast & clown & magician & queen
before sightless eyes
transformation unperceived
has been
will be
secret blueprints
Cheshire grins & conspiratorial eyes
Audrey’s sunglasses can’t hide
an architect in her mind
the world’s largest ball of yarn
wants only for the world’s largest cat
cryptic visions dangle precariously from her perfect
lips
unintentional on purpose, torture by design
starter guns began the race
disguised in ink & lines & black lace
that started for the 101st time
without the cane
mirrors lie & so do ’they’
but her middle name is Abe
so trust or don’t or stay away
ask the guards
but her and Jack are mountaineers
without a guide
revolution sparked by a passing notion
a child’s imaginings & endless blue skies
for the lady in waiting, silver refined
no more!
madness & sanity for the 1st time
put the straw down, look again
open wide, inhale, breathe
library closed, to borrow no more
from strangers’ tales or history’s lies
reflection in a crystal pond
sings life to her
lyrics now recognized
the forgotten cane, no greater gift
discarded time, her tale exists
tick tock tick tick
clarity inside, covered by silk, held in with lace
mystery, intrigue
guess again, truth or dare, just try & see
a hint of a whisper, desire lingers
in her eyes . . . look closer
before. . .
she is
gone
away
out
for a walk
for a while
for a time
or more . . .