Country Fair

There’s something about the twilight

Before the sun settles down for the night

The world outside appears a different place

As I do my evening chore of feed and hay

The horses follow me as I carry a bale

Reminding me of gypsies begging coin, spinning tales

They pull out mouthfuls and munch as I go

Harassing me until I stop and throw

I can’t help but admire the cotton candy sky

Reminding me of times gone by

Wishing I could taste it, sweet on my tongue

Rush to my blood, into the fun I was flung

Tilt-a- whirls and super slides

Carousels and pony rides

Feasting on hot pretzels, fried green tomatoes

Feeling guilty about those deep fried oreos.

Tonight I appreciate the bats’ acrobatics

They defy gravity while I stay grounded, not ecstatic

Oh how I wish I could join them as they swoop and dive

To see the world from their perspective up high

I’ll have to pretend the neighbor’s music and grilling

Are the smells of food trucks and the sound of children shrilling

The stars appearing are the lights of the attractions

My fondness for it all is just an abstraction

The tractor pull I always watched with my father

Can’t be replaced by my husband mowing. Why bother?

Our old friends aren’t standing on this lawn

I fear like my Dad they too will all soon be bygone

I’ve been robbed of memories made

Leaving me feeling oh so afraid

of missing out on ones yet to arrive

With my own kids I must try to strive

To make the best of this end of summer

Even though it is quite the bummer

Without the fireworks and the cheer

Of excited children and rednecks full of beer

The rumble and roar of the bachelors’ motorbikes

With some imagination they can sound just like

The display that closes out the country fair

To miss it ever I would never dare

But tonight I must accept this as fate

It’s not just mine. The whole world must wait

To gather for fun, fireworks, and song

Hopefully life like this won’t last too long

I finish my rounds listening to crickets and click beetles

And pretend they are the voices of all the fair going people

Ending the festivities craning to see the lights in the sky

Singing God Bless America and bidding the summer good bye.

Cotton Candy Sky