Abby the Stabby - 7

Wandering 'round in the colourful wood,

Abby the Stabby's not feeling so good:

Tumbled and tossed, and shaken around,

Jostled and drenched, and quite nearly drowned,

Angry and frightened of what might occur

If she lets the dream get the better of her;

"I must stay aware, and awake, and alert,

And exercise caution, lest I be hurt --

If only a map or a guide were nearby,

I'd ask for directions and bid them goodbye,

But as it stands now, I don't know what to do;

I've probably wandered an hour (plus two) --

Ah, there! On the mushroom -- a creature, you see?

A large caterpillar, smoke-ringing at me!"

"Who are you," he asks, blowing smoke in a plume,

"Why have you come here, to my large mushroom?"

(You don't seem a flower, a tree or a bird,

And your voice sounds like nothing that I've ever heard.)

Perhaps you are no one, or nothing at all

(At least not that my memory can recall),

So answer me this, Miss How-Do-You-Do:

"What are you doing here, and who are you?"

"Imagine," cries Abby, "How dreadfully rude,

To be spoken to with such poor attitude --

I thought when I saw you that you might be wise,

But you don't know a girl when in front of your eyes;

I'm not the same size as I was at my birth;

I'm smaller in fact than I'm actually worth

And if you were nicer I'd ask you for help,

But clearly I'll have to escape by myself!"

"Easy, young creature -- don't lose it too soon,

You'll cast a dark shadow on gold'n afternoon

There's only one way to get out of the dream

No matter how hopeless your struggle may seem;

Handle your temper, child -- don't lose your head --

Rather than anger, use reason instead,

Follow your instincts, don't be led astray

And don't mind a word the dumb cat has to say."

"A cat," Abby mutters, "I've got one of those,

With long crooked whiskers and little pink nose;

But mine doesn't say much (I don't think cats do,

Save the odd purr or occasional mew), 

If this one's like mine, then I hope that he's nice

And maybe he'll give me some helpful advice --

I'll have to remember to take it with salt;

If this is my dream, then it's also my fault."

---

© Jackson Cambridge, 2016.

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