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Wonderland IV: The Hairdresser's Tale

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Originally published: 6th July 2020

Image by gR

With my thanks and apologies to Lewis Carroll and Geoffrey Chaucer.

THE WONDERLAND SERIES

I: Prologue
II: The Hatter's Tale
III: The Watchmaker's Tale
IV: The Hairdresser's Tale
V: The Chef's Tale
VI: The Sailor's Tale
VII: The Preacher's Tale
VIII: Conclusion

Morning She would chat and then nod as she washed And laugh as she dried and then curled But behind all the smiles that were wide, fixed and false She felt challenged and alone in the world. She felt angry and always so tired With debts adding up to her worry She would rather stay home and dream every day Than be out every hour earning money. Noon She looked at herself in the mirror And then sighed at the things she had seen: Her life going backwards from where she once was When her path was marked out to be queen. She reflected back onto her childhood And the reasons for her mistrust of men The real world took over when she opened her eyes She was young and so different back then. She was tempted to run from her rehab. To a place that could let her forget And hide down a hole where the 'Drink Me' was free But she stood firm and wasn't there yet. She felt trapped in her work ever after And wanted to leave and explore But each time she tried, she failed and then found She was back in the salon once more. Night She helped out in The Tabard each evening To avoid all the beatings at home. She would laugh and play chess with the customers there But despite this felt very alone. She returned to her home just past midnight A place that she hated and feared Her husband was up and waiting for her With eyes that stared back and looked weird. She said nothing on entering the hallway Then said she was going to bed. He breathed a big sigh and then he spoke out And these are his words that he said: - I went to The Tabard this evening To swap drink for the Watchmaker's gold. I wanted to make you a ring for our love Now I'm back and I'm wet and I'm cold. Later That Night She ignored her fifth husband's advances And reached for some whisky instead Then with scissors in hand came a voice from her heart It was his turn to hear "Off with his head!"

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John Watt

Date: 7/21/2022 10:49:00 PM

I see I commented on this before but I must admit it means more to me two years on, because a) I see it as an integrated piece of a larger series and b) because I know you better and have been able to grow in my appreciation and admiration of your mind and poetic talent. I noticed the "drink me" and "off with his head" references last time, but caught the mirror, chess, and Queen ones this time around. Plus i saw from your comment this was connected to the Wyfe of Bath tale? Well done. Cheers

Gary Radice
Date: 7/22/2022 12:40:00 AM

2) ) A final thought: there are a few people out there in Google Land who cast dispersions on Carroll's relationship with 10 year old Alice. (The real life daughter of a friend of Carroll's) He was a keen photographer and photographed many children. I hint at these allegations - for that's what they are - with the line: "She reflected back onto her childhood And the reasons for her mistrust of men" Cheers - Gary

Gary Radice
Date: 7/22/2022 12:39:00 AM

1) Thanks once again John. There was another very obscure reference to The Looking Glass: the path Alice found herself on trying to get to the garden always led her back to Looking Glass house. "But each time she tried, she failed and then found She was back in the salon once more" I didn't refer too much to The Canterbury Tales in this poem other than playing around with The Wife Of Bath's character rather than her story. In The Canterbury Tales she was beaten by her fifth (misogynistic) husband but she liked him because he satisfied her the most in bed. Where is the love? In my version she gets her own back. Cheers - Gary

Beryl Edmonds

Date: 11/20/2020 3:00:00 PM

Marvellous, what a great storyteller you are Gary, I’m really enjoying each one of your poetic tales... Belle

Gary Radice
Date: 11/22/2020 1:34:00 PM

Much appreciated Belle. Cheers - Gary

Linda Alice Fowler

Date: 10/25/2020 6:31:00 AM

Quite eerie with this one Gary. I love it! Linda

Gary Radice
Date: 10/25/2020 9:36:00 AM

Yes, Linda, this is a dark poem. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I think there are very dark parts in Alice (Wonderland / Looking Glass) and The Canterbury Tales so attempted to highlight some of them in these poems. Cheers - Gary

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 7/13/2020 6:40:00 AM

Wow! Off with his head. No one should cross a sister with a scissors! Enjoyed the write!

Gary Radice
Date: 7/13/2020 8:39:00 AM

Thanks Kim! :)

Sam Kauffman

Date: 7/8/2020 12:24:00 PM

Powerful and poignant picture of the emptiness left by abuse, Gary. And, so often, that abuse is unknown until "off with his head" becomes a stark reality. The way you set up the poem is unique and very creative! Congratulations!

Gary Radice
Date: 7/8/2020 1:23:00 PM

Thank you Sam! As well as Alice, there was a bit of The Wife Of Bath in there too..she had had 5 husbands but loved her fifth the most despite him beating her..Something that would shock many .I decided she could have the final say in my poem :)

John Watt

Date: 7/8/2020 11:56:00 AM

Gary, I enjoyed the nods to Lewis Carroll with your italicized phrases, and found your write to be very sympathetic to the plight of the sad hairdresser. Congrats on your win with Brian ~ John

Gary Radice
Date: 7/8/2020 12:16:00 PM

Thank you John for your kind comments. I've always been fascinated by Lewis Carroll's characters and liked the idea of writing about an older Alice. I snuck a few other references in there too..The chess and the looking glass (mirror) and becoming a queen but I admit they are obscure. :)

Brenda Chiri

Date: 7/8/2020 7:45:00 AM

Enjoyed this! Congrats on your top win!;)

Gary Radice
Date: 7/8/2020 8:13:00 AM

Thank you Brenda! Good to read you back at The Soup.

Sara Kendrick

Date: 7/6/2020 7:54:00 AM

Creative and expressive work. Many out there understand exactly what this lady was going through. Sara

Gary Radice
Date: 7/6/2020 9:09:00 AM

Thank you Sara :) The hairdresser has attributes of both Alice (Looking Glass & Wonderland) and The Wife of Bath (Canterbury Tales) albeit with much spin. Their stories and characters intrigue me as much as the real life issues sadden me. Thank you once again. Cheers Gary!