Alice Holds the Body of Christ

In a picture by John Tenniel
Alice holds the body of Christ
posing as a pink flamingo
the pack of cards are parables
the hookah pipes, keys, the painted flowers
the sacraments she devours
for Alice drinks the blood of Christ
eats the flesh of an ancient king
because it’s all lore and lovely symbolism
some might say sacred sadomasochism
Alice could be the Virgin Mary
or a holy fairy, or some other spectral soul
transubstantiation down a rabbit hole
and if it’s not crucifixion
it will be cut off your head
some primal obsession with being dead
and if it isn’t a girl on a donkey
it will be a mad tea party
because it’s all sweet symmetry
riddles that rhyme with time
a crown of thorns, an olive tree
pools of tears, fears, consecrated wine
creatures, cakes, snakes, strange things divine
for one kiss in the garden of Gethsemane
holds the fate of man
In one image Alice holds the body of Christ in her arms
and with that bird, somehow, all eternity.