colors swirl and twist and
twirl.
' Now step through the looking glass
and into a parallel world.'
A man lies in wait
with a pipe and measured gait,
in a suit made from despair;
milky skin and
sightless seeing eyes
and a plait of ebony hair.
His eyes have seen the fall
of everyone and every all.
He beckons you in with a finger
and blows rings of smoke in your face.
' I really shouldn't linger',
but alas, it is already too late.
You follow him in,
and he walks with great care.
Oh God forbid he give you a scare.
You find yourself at a table
and he on the opposite side.
' Sit down, sit down,' he says,
' with me you can confide,'
' Sit down, sit down,' he says,
' There's really no reason to hide.'
And yes, you think;
there is no reason to hide.
Yes, true, you think;
in he you can confide.
' There is no rush,
please take your time.'
he says with pleading eyes.
Yes, true, you think;
he must know best,
he's very old and wise.
' What is it you need?' you ask
' For I, most certainly,
am up for the task.'
' Please pick a card,
here from my hand.'
his smile wide and grand.
You slip one out
and there comes the doubt.
' Ah, yes,' he says
'the thirteenth trump,
the end of life,
and cease of your strife.'
Doubt starts to bloom
with every inhaled plume;
surely it simply
could not be the fumes?
' Oh no, I cannot stay;
I must be on my way!'
But your plea goes to eyes that implore,
' You must go now, you say?
But, oh, whatever for?'
His mouth forms an 'O'
and he breathes a ring of smoke,
then suddenly you start to choke.
The room is spinning,
there is no door.
But where is the ceiling
and where is the floor?
And then
there is only black anymore.
His voice invades a starless night,
his eager face the only light.
' Oh, hurry now,
'n please make haste.
Your time has come,
with none to waste.'