Once more I want to ride the carousel,
whose galloping ponies' bright-painted thighs undulate and sing to my core,
and yet fear shrieks: hold fast the pole, hold fast the pole, hold fast the pole
in rhythm sync with pretty ponies, painted bright.
Carousel Pony Princes Street Gardens Edinburgh, Wikipedia, public domain
Once more I want to see mist over distant purpled mountains,
to see light break, to lift sun's virgin veil from night's shadow;
I am that girl who chased the sun, who grasped at the mist;
it is my bridal veil, my shroud, and yet fear shrieks:
hold fast the pole, hold fast the pole, hold fast the pole
in rhythm sync with pretty ponies, painted bright.
Once more I want to feel waves of blue-dotted foam
lap my toes like whispered baby breath, to hear gulls cry,
to see children run headlong toward sandy beach, pail in hand,
their barefoot toes digging like clams into wet-cold sand,
and yet fear shrieks: hold fast the pole, hold fast the pole, hold fast the pole
in rhythm sync with pretty ponies, painted bright.
Once more before I die, I want to ride the carousel,
whose galloping ponies' bright-painted thighs undulate and sing to my core,
and when fear shrieks, hold fast the pole, hold fast the pole, hold fast the pole
in rhythm sync with pretty ponies, painted bright,
I shall rejoice: I shall raise myself toward the sun and run to the sea,
and as my bridal-veil shroud laps my legs, I shall cast off my raiments
and I shall laugh, laugh, laugh, long into the cold, dark night.
Waves at Night, creative commons, cobalt123 flikr public
Copyright © 2008 Kathryn Esplin-Oleski
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Comments: 141
That was wonderful. It really made me think about those things that I would once again like to experience. Thanks
10 4 u
This is a great poem. The more I re-read it the more I like it. Great job!
The pictures you added help with the visual as well, good call.
Charles Marcello
Kathryn.....this brings to mind a song we sang in chorus when i was 10....all about riding the horses on a carousal...it began with 'um bloop bloop, um bloop bloop...hear the music make'....it goes through my mind at the strangest times...
lovely pictures
Does it harm one's pleasure in a poem to know what the author meant? I ask because in my English classes I kept hearing interpretations of meaning but they were never by the author. I always wondered how much was put there on purpose and how much others found that the author never intended.
As you can tell, I am no poet at all. I am to litteral and to rational. It is both a blessing and a curse for me. Fortunately I am used to it and don't suffer much. :-)
Isn't it amazing how the passage of time "bends" our perspectives and our writings; how we look back as if through another's eye and see ourselves and our lives more objectively? Perhaps it's the need to release the day to day responsiblities (or at least a part of them) that tend to mute us in our older age and starve us into looking back at simple things that once brought us such pleasure/fulfillment. Where's the damn pill for this condition?
Goodness this hits me hard - simple joys, simple moments and simple needs and wants.
What a "simply" wonderful piece and GREAT read! Thanks darlin'!
Blessings,
Rene A.
Or, it could just be a beautiful poem from a gifted writer. In any case, I think we each find what we need in any poem. Thank you, Kathryn. namaste
Thanks, Poppa.
I think it is about sex and you are not getting any. Am I right? I'm not getting any either because I'm neutered.
You want to walk into the ocean like the Norman Maine character in "A Star is Born"?
I cannot imagine walking into the ocean. I don't like water unless it's for drinking. I drink a lot of water because my kidneys are failing.
Z'
Good mix of the carousel imagery with the darker message, Kathryn.
Please.
Thank you Kathryn
thank you carolyn and Sigriet.