standing quietly alone,
the warped carnival mirror
sagged as people giggled through it’s reflection.

however,
the illusion and allure were quickly lost when,
distracted by the humid scent of funnel cake,
desire switched to
the flashing lights
and the taste of love
and the Ferris wheel around the bend.

but the mirror stayed still like a train station.
it let the roller coaster roll.
it let the symphony play.

until
a crack grew and grew and

the beautiful curves of the mirror
shattered.

not from the strain or the weight,
but the absence,
the lack.

and the funnel cake lost it’s taste
and the Ferris wheel it’s allure
as the clown

swept away the
liberated shards of glass,
which sparkled like
new stars
as they fell into the
rust- rimmed
can.