the ride

Posted on November 27, 2016 Updated on November 27, 2016

at Idlewild Amusement Park with my young daughter

Callie and I start with the Spider.
Our first twisty-spin-and-sudden-dip around,
my body remembers this feeling and relaxes
into the wild ride and the wide blue sky.
But Callie is a crunched “C” atop the seat,
back forward, head down, fists clenched
around the safety bar, arms and legs
braced rigid against the movement.
My right arm finds its way around her in the
swooping chaos, draws her to me;
my left hand releases the safety
bar loosely grasped and holds her
left arm firmly.
I am an out of control cocoon.

Spin madly with me, my Monkey Girl.
Laugh and scream with me in
dizzy joy.
Feel my arms around you and feel safe.
Don’t notice that I’m holding onto nothing—
Nothing except you.

first drafted July 2010