The rabbit jumps over fallen leaves
Scurries between exposed root and earth
Stares anxious at his wristwatch
Ever rushing in tie and suit
The cheshire grins wide
The devil in his eyes, he taunts
You've no time, dear rabbit
Time flies, and you're far too grounded
The caterpillar draws in a deep breath
Exhales a house of cards falling in smoke
"Pardon, Mr. Rabbit, but is this
What you're rushing towards?"
Oh, but the mad hatter waits
At a table set for eight and a half
Surrounded by a council of imaginary fiends
"Shall we proceed for the evening, in absentia
Of our dear friend Mr. Rabbit?"
The council sits motionless
Tension mounts in button-eyes
The time has come to decide
Who shall live, and who shall die
And a mad laugh dances forth across the table
And the hatter beckons all come close
None listen, though he seems not to notice
He extends his tophat, "We'll draw straws."
Reaches in, and withdraws paper and pencil
For each of his friends
"Whomever draws the shortest straw
Will undertake this most dangerous of missions."
Alice is gone, spending a year abroad
And the queen is back to old habits, and must be stopped
The mad hatter scribbles furiously
While the council stares emotionless
He holds up his paper proudly
Exclaims "Voila!" and glares madly
At his imaginary gathering
Who had yet to pick up their pencils
The rabbit arrives, clutching a paper three feet in length
With a well-drawn straw measuring
Two feet and eight inches
The hatter recoils, his great plan had been foiled
For he had sketched a spoon
Just nineteen inches from handle to scoop
His shoulders sunk, and Mr. Rabbit spoke up
"I suppose it's you, Mr. Hatter
Who will approach the queen, and ideally
Kill her with laughter."
But the hatter would not give up so easily
So he smiled wide and stared hard at Mr. Rabbit
"You're just in time, my good friend,
For the spoon drawing contest, though it seems
I win again."
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