i went to the park today;
the carousel was shuttered up;
it was midday;
the children were in school;
the sidewalk sellers were sparse;
one old man in a cowboy hat
with his guitar was warming up,
his cup for tips sat at his folded knee;
the folks in the park were old
or
homeless ones who had wandered in,
repacking their plastic bags
by the fountains.

i wish i could ride the carousel today
all by myself
with the organ music playing loudly;
i would pick the largest horse to ride,
the palomino with the white mane;
i would hold on to the pole
as my steed would rise up and down;
i would sway side to side in time with the
organ music.

i would like to ride my steed on the carousel today…
but
the carousel is shuttered.