from her adventures in Wonderland
from her trip to the corner store
from her journey to the stars
from somewhere
because she’s back.
You said it on the phone.
I don’t know who was on the other end,
the receiver of the message
that Alice just came back.
It means she was away,
I don’t know how far.
Maybe she went to Disneyland
and is wearing mouse ears
on her return.
I didn’t see her, so
I don’t know.
I only heard that
she came back.
I am glad
even though I don’t know where she went
or how far her journey was
since it is always nice
to be back
and be welcomed by words
that say you’re here.

BARBARA NOVACK is Writer-in-Residence at Molloy University and a member of their English Department. She founded and hosts Molloy’s on-campus Poetry Events readings. Off campus, she conducts highly regarded creative writing workshops. Her most recent book, Heart Like Leaves (2022), is a memoir in poetry of love, loss and consolation. She is author of seven other poetry collections and one novel and has been honored by Marquis Who’s Who with their Lifetime Achievement Award.