Queen of Hearts

My compass led me here, must be broken,

To slanted streets in a tilted city

The one of which trembling lips have spoken

A cry “All hail her royal majesty!”

Under chandeliers of candles and gold

The flames swirl with crimson in my goblet,

She floats as phantoms do but far too bold

Lustrous rubies arranged like blood droplets

Drip from her throat, hypnotizing all eyes

While hers burn dark like fire rimmed vats of tar.

She bids me stay the night and I comply

But morning sun streams in through iron bars.

My feather pillow now a pile of straw,

The dungeon where her victims have suffered

Tightly clenched shackles rubbing my wrists raw.

All the rumors, their true tale discovered –

Fly in a spiderweb, ensnared by her.

The immortal queen eats a special tart,

Vanilla, cherry, something sinister

The last ingredient: my beating heart.