life’s carnival

i wanted each one

of those fake rabbit feet

dyed in colors unnatural

and each of those magical mood rings

that could speak for what i could not say

and the crystal domed snow cone of ice

drenched in a rainbow

the baby blue cotton candy

and the pink one, too

the feathers dangling

from leather on a clip

and the goldfish in a bag

and then to spin

weighted, but weightless

so my mind’s eye could match

the kaleidoscope of wonder

with the world of things to see

and i will take your hand

your sticky, chubby, dirty fingers

and lead you back to the calliope

and you will know it is me

because of the pinwheel in my hair