Breathe the Wonder
You be Alice, and I'll be Dorothy,
And she can be Rapunzel in her sky-high tower;
Don't try to tell me that it's only fantasy.
You know as well as me
These tales have power,
They can pull you down
Just like a sailor when his ship goes under.
The only way I've found
To stay alive
Is just to close your eyes
And learn to breathe the wonder with me.
It's a looking glass trip to Wonderland,
It's the rabbithole, it's sweet salvation.
Don't try pretending that you just can't understand.
Your hidden heart demands
Its re-creation,
You can break away
Just like a rainstorm at the sound of thunder.
Now all you need to say
Is 'once upon' --
When all your doubts are gone,
Then you can breathe the wonder with me.
Climb climb, climb the beanstalk roads,
Steal the harp and rob the giant blind.
It isn't all princesses and toads --
Fairy tales are fair, but seldom kind.
Sail your pirate ship on moonlight seas,
Tell the sirens not to whisper where you've been.
You can burn with us, or you can freeze
In the paradise prison of your skin,
Oh,
It's a little girl in a crimson hood;
It's wolf and woodsman, it's both sin and savior.
It's all the hidden paths inside the deep dark wood,
It's ever after on
It's best behavior,
It can break your heart
Just like a lover's knot that's torn asunder;
Now you can make your start
And find a place
You only have to face
The need to breathe the wonder with me.
Climb climb, climb the beanstalk roads,
Steal the harp and rob the giant blind.
It isn't all princesses and toads --
Fairy tales are fair, but seldom kind.
Sail your pirate ship on moonlight seas,
Tell the sirens not to whisper where you've been.
You can burn with us, or you can freeze
In the paradise prison of your skin,
Oh,
You be Alice, and I'll be Dorothy,
And she can be Rapunzel in her sky-high tower;
Don't try to tell me that it's only fantasy.
You know as well as me
These tales have power...Written on: 2008-07-01. Seanan McGuire