Rides of Summer

RIDES OF SUMMER

We were young when the fair came once a year,

entering gates to the ticket booth of excitement.

Ignore sad merry-go-round to whoop and cheer,

luring tent, den of sword swallowers enticement.

Junket of rides, plus skill games—plucking prizes.

There was the spinning, wacky, zany, Tilt-a-Whirl,

bouncing up and down like a pastor who baptizes.

Sinners, also brave boys wail—howls shrill...a girl?

We were brave sitting in a speedy Octopus basket,

thrilled, adding repeat rides late in a neon lit night.

Swirling, churn, slip to and fro—eight arm octo-pit,

staggering on land, sea-leg sailor—wobbled delight.

Tall Ferris wheel gondola hung—seductive acrobat,

told “Don’t rock the boat”—crossed fingers, agreed.

Soaring stop, breezy crown—curious daredevil brat,

spying antlike folks below—top of the world deed.

Celebrating long ago, daring fantasies ended summer.

Covid-19 shuts down fairs—old moan, “Oh, bummer.”

Future, mysterious—worldly wise, or up-and-comer?

Scientists work hard to find a germ-fighting plumber.

April Ryan a poet for our times with Seattle rhymes.

SHARING STORIES is a weekly column for and about the 50 plus crowd living in the Puget Sound region. Send your stories and photos to ariele@comcast.net. Tell local or personal stories; discuss concerns around aging and other issues; share solutions, good luck, and reasons to celebrate; poems are fine too. Pieces may be edited or excerpted. We reserve the right to select among pieces. Photos are always a plus and a one-sentence bio is requested (where you live, maybe age or career, retired status, etc.).

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