Abby the Stabby - 11

The Queen's face grows purple, her expression hardens,

The King runs about, quickly handing out pardons, 

Until - the game called on account of a crime

Committed while everyone'd had their good time;

Then, sat on their thrones, to the whole city-state,

The Queen bellowed, "Who shall I decapitate?

Who's the defendant, and what did he do,

And is there a reason I care (maybe two)?

Bring me the prisoner! Off with his head,

And if not that one, someone else's instead!"

Called the White Rabbit, "Hear ye, hear ye --

(While blowing his trumpet, most annoyingly), 

Someone has eaten the Queen's royal tarts,

And that someone's name is the Knave of the Hearts!

He tried to escape, but to no avail --

Let justice (or something else like it) prevail!"

‘Why put him in chains, and punish him further?

He took a few tarts to eat -- hardly a murder,

Or anything worth this degree of assault,

And how do they know that it's even his fault?

This isn't a trial, it's a farce -- a lampoon,

And ever so boring (please let me wake soon); 

The jury's no more than some critters and birds

(Most of them probably don't know many words),

The King is the judge, but he doesn't say much, 

(Not with the Queen's endless ranting and such) --

And all because Mom's (I mean Queen's) rage exploded,

Demanding that someone be coldly railroaded?’

"Your Highness, I'm sorry -- I don't understand:

Are crimes always handled this way in your land?"

"How dare you meddle in our royal business,"

The Queen bellowed, "Now then -- let's have the first witness!

They each testified, one after another

(Careful to not contradict one another),

Worried their skulls would be fast liberated

Should anyone's side become hotly debated;

The Hatter, the Dormouse, and froggy-eyed cook

All gave their sides of it (swore on the Book), 

Till Abby felt scared that the noise wouldn't end

And the chaos would make her frail sanity bend

"Please," she implores, "I can't watch such a lynch!

You've no call to behead this man -- not a pinch!"

"And what do you know," squeaked the short little King,

"Of who should or shouldn't decide on a thing?

Are you a Queen, or even Princess?

Are you responsible for this whole mess?

"No," Abby cried, trying her best to smile,

But Queen screamed out, "LIAR! Put her on trial!"

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- © Jackson Cambridge, 2016.