Trapped in Oz

Jessy Randall

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We tried everything to get here
We didn't know Oz could change
Eyes squeezed shut,
stepping onto the secret staircase
with fingers crossed, borrowing
from other books, mothball dresses
caressing us in the wardrobe, so
disappointed to feel the wood with our hands

Until finally I made it
disembarking from the elevator
into an imaginary land

Everything is alive here,
singing rocks, warbling litter,
from my motel I hear this
infernal racket all night long;
I can't sleep; there's no t.v.
but plenty of pollution

Dear Dorothy
I am rolling up this message
and tying it with string
and next time a tornado comes through here
I plan to throw the message in
and hope it gets to you.
If you can get me out of here
please do

The 2River View, 3_2 (Winter 1999)