the carousel finds light
in the trite
the old and the good company
the worn horses where we got sick
and every spin since is vertigo

when we were here last it was as if
a newborn crawled from my cautious skin
and I was pure again, with you
cotton candy smile to rot the core of me

fate, a stout devil, missing teeth
killer queen grin
flips the switch and then
I am here alone
with the chewing gum pavement
and your last dollar for the skill crane

if only we could be beautiful,
and childlike again
wrapped up in all the things
mothers warn their little ones of