I inhale the aroma

of deep fried pastries with powdered sugar

Brahman bulls, pigmy goats, horses,

occasional whiff of weed ...

 

Young son's initiation:  cotton candy,

dragon tattoo, first carnival ride - arms outstretched,

swinging precariously overhead, laughing ...

 

make our escape - stroll amongst quilts,

painted, and woven until his new-found addiction

 

finds us amongst noise and confusion once again,

I with sideways glances at pimple faced youth

awkwardly flirting, holding hands, giggling

(a faint memory tickles the back of my brain...)

 

and my young son wired on sugar and temptation:

over-sized stuffed toys and roller-coaster rides

which I forbid.  Point him towards the bumper cars

 

and carousel - perhaps this will be the last year

he allows me to publicly kiss his cheek

as he climbs upon the lion's back...

 

by Margaret Bednar, September 11, 2017