Fear in the Palm of Your Hand

 

I.

 

The sadness on your face

says you finally saw the real her beneath that smile.

Somewhere in the creases of your frown

It’s obvious you hoped she would try to love the real you,

     self-exaggerated flaws and all,

you wanted life with her to be without games.

It’s a shame, I say, love should have turned it around.

 

Living in that mansion on the hill,

        don’t you lock yourself away.

Your friends won’t fail to remember the places you’ve taken them,

        and all the parts of yourself you’ve given away.

What a shame she played your love that way.

What a transparent, foolish little girl,

         to squander the best gift in the world.

Then, you’ve never let yourself be a victim.

You’ve always walked out first, head held high,

        never limping, whether you’ve needed to or not,

               never looking back.

With needle and thread, you carefully reknit the past if you have to,

        to make it what you need it to be, to keep the rest of us happy,

               to keep yourself sane.

Even if you won’t learn from your mistakes,

        this time you’re not to blame.

 

 

II.

 

Oh, silly me,

I keep searching for someone exactly like you.

When I’m out of breath

I realize I’m running again,

       toward someone I thought was you.

I can’t run anymore

       when my heart’s broken in two

                     again.

 

Like Alice through the looking glass

       hoping you’re standing on the other side.

Like Alice falling

       head over heels forever.  

Like Alice taking a magic pill

       to make it all go away.

 

It’s a demented scheme the witch hatched to amuse herself

         to make you think you’re lucky the Goddess turned your way

                Her scheme is a paper dragon you have to slay.

Sing a song. It will simply blow away

Like a puff of smoke, a small and weightless cloud.

                  

 

 

III.

 

Don't jump.

See the shadow there?

She has you scared is all.

It’s in your mind, silly boy.

No one need know.

No one would guess

that precious secret of yours

that you exaggerate to yourself.

She’s painted that shadow there.

Go for the Goddess, silly boy.

Her vampire teeth have been well filed,

   don’t you think?

You don’t have to fear betrayal.

You don’t have to fear anything at all.

 

I know that flaw;

it won’t matter, I promise.

Not when you’ve mastered the arts,

    not once you’ve shared your hearts.

You’re strong, silly boy.

So strong to have survived the trials,

to have survived both the victories and defeats.

Don’t jump.

It’s only fear in the palm of your hand

It’s a darkness behind closed eyes.

Hold on to your dream. Did it die, you think?

Here, I’ll give you mine.

I don’t need it any longer.

It was yours all along.

     and I don’t have the time to waste wishing,

           waiting for a dream to turn around

                  to spot me in the crowd.

 

Reviews

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I love this as well, beautiful. I was thrilled to see the allusions to Alice...I did a series of drawings on Alice, the Mad Hatter, Dormouse and of course, the rabbit. I even drew the caterpiller smoking his hookah. In my version he is also playing musical instruments (it was an artistic deference to Jefferson Starship and "White Rabbit") Yes, I know I'm strange.

[Antony]

Wow Mimi, you have told a whole story with this piece, It is awesome and keeps the reader on edge of what will be said next, an excellent use of metaphor as well, I am glad I took a peek at your page, haven't been around much lately.
Tony

[*** Hey Jude***]

Wow, what powerful metaphors you have combined to share such overwhelming energy. I really like the way you formatted this piece it added to its excellence! ~ Jude xo :-) ~ Jude xo :-)