If She Didn't

if she didn't stop saying out loud how
ridiculous everything was
she knew she would never be permitted to leave

much less be invited back to the party
where no cake was served
or to the trials where everything was decided

so far in advance
it was no use asking for directions

it was impossible to calculate
at least where she went to school
so she started to use the word absurd

knowing there wouldn't be enough time
for anyone to look anything up in the dictionary
and anyway they would lose their place

and it was written in mirror writing
and she'd broke their only mirror
as she'd plummeted down

the kaleidoscope of a tunnel
they called home.

mary angela douglas 26 january 2018