carousel

when the county fair has come to town
if only for a few days
my daughter gets so excited
she adores the merry-go-round
i will admit
the one they have is breathtaking
it spins the animals in circles
underneath the sound of organs
naive of nature’s cruelty
my grandparents once said
that carousel animals were carved
in careful craftsmanship
marvels of woodwork
but my daughter still enjoys
riding the cast aluminum
a lordly tiger on a reassuring hunt
a jovial pig, ecstatic and innocent
a zebra with stripes that make you wonder
a portly bear, its teeth concealed
a giant hare in its usual hurry
but none can compare
to my daughter’s favorite
she wakes me each day
the fair is in town
at the crack of dawn
and begs me to ride
the magnificent horses
their painted manes
worn from tender hands