Queen of the Wild

the secret garden,
the rabbit hole,
the elephant graveyard.
all forbidden places but-
your childhood self went there
(in your mind)
you scaled large bones,
ate the cookies that said "eat me!"
stole the brass key
and ran-
naked-
into the neighbor's overgrown flowerpatch.
'VANESSA ROSE LONGWORTH,'
yelled jeanette.
'get over here this instant!'
so you left the fantasy you invited me to,
and you squat on your wooden chair,
pouting,
picking at squares of beef with your long fingers.
it
wouldn't
be
long
until
you were back in the mischief-
the forbidden places-
your own magical world.
oh vanessa,
you weren't supposed to leave us.
that was against the rules.
we want you here at the dinner table,
look! we even have capers for you! don't you like capers?
but you're off
in the secret garden,
the rabbit hole,
the elephant graveyard.
playing,
i'm sure,
having an adventure all your own.