Abby the Stabby - 5

'Finally, a bank in this frightening place!'

(Tearless) relief shines on Abigail's face,

Soaked to the bone and desperately cold,

Worried more dangers have yet to unfold --

While all around her, loose bits of her mind

Take varying shapes both malicious and kind;

The mouse of composure's there (most stubbornly)

Right in the middle, where all rest could see;

A Duck and a Dodo (her faith and good sense);

A colourful Lory, bright and intense;

And finally an Eaglet, soft-spoken and brave

(Some others as well, each one lost in the stave),

"Right, then. In order to dry ourselves off

Before we catch cold," he squeaked with a cough,

"I'll tell you a story -- the driest I know,

Once done, we'll be drier than moments ago."

"Would it be faster," asks Dodo, "to veer

Around this large circle that's already here?"

"Perhaps," quips the mouse (from the Lory, a sigh--)

"But more to the point,"(tone impatient and wry)

"There's a point to this tale -- listen up! Listen well,

If we're to escape this personal hell.

It concerns a tyrant of violent reproach --

Upon Abby's mother did he encroach --

Claimed all he wanted 'til nothing was left

Leaving poor Abby alone and bereft;

Subservient, lest she trigger his rage,

She lay in the corner, safe in her cage,

Of course she was frightened -- you would be too

If you had to hide for a decade (plus two)

From a monster with violence deep in his core...

(And oop -- little mouse is sleeping once more)--

Of course, while he spoke, the others (with cunning)

Got themselves dry with the Dodo's plan (running);

Abigail urges the Mouse to keep going,

But no answer comes, and her urgency's growing --

"We're out of the water, but what happens now?

I fear that I may not be free anyhow --

If this is a dream, there's no joy in the waking

(As she is sleeping, her whole body's shaking),

"And what of the story? Yes, what of the tale

Of the monster I'm facing, just past the dream's veil,

And where in the world is my beautiful cat

(At that word, all the animals fled, just like that)?

------

Interlude: the Mouse's Tale

(As Abby and company splash in the drink,

The mouse goes on mumbling as they watch him shrink;

the last of her sanity scrubbed clear away,

Reciting the words she thought she heard him say:)

                                "Anger said to the

                                girl,With a

                            sneering lip

                        curl,

                    'Let

                        us both here

                            agree: Your

                                whole body is

                                          MINE. - Come,

                                                I'll have no

                                        dissent; I've

                               pitched a great

                           tent: For

                        honestly

                    darling, you

                always

              look fine.'

                Said the

                    girl to the

                        rage, 'Back

                                    up a

                                        quick page;

                                                You're

                                        after her

                                    daughter

                    When she's

                       not

                          around?'

                           A low,

                        sombre

                            voice:

                                'Love,

                                    there isn't

                                        a choice --

                                                So

                                            much as

                                                a word,

                                                    and

                                            you're both

                                                      in

                                                  the

                                        ground.'

------

  - © Jackson Cambridge, 2016.