Wednesday 7 May 2014

away from the garish disconnect

 
the manic day,
began to slow
and, at last,
drifted

to a gentle lullaby rock 
like a carousel . . .
winding down.

and I felt the way
I used to feel
when, as a child,
I was led away

from the carnival grounds
to be tucked into bed
with Mother’s kiss:

snug and safe,
from the garish disconnect
and the discomforting
orphan void. 

For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love. –
Carl Sagan

note:  the prompt from Poetry Jam this week is Festivals (fairs, carnivals or fests) and/or (this Sunday being Mother’s Day) Mothers.

photo:  Montmartre Carousel - W. Bourke 

© 2014 Wendy Bourke

12 comments:

  1. Wendy, I understand well the feeling of the carousel winding down. Sort of like, to me, a music box winding down as well. Slower, ever slower. It is nice to have frenetic activity in one's life for a while....but then again it feels even better when one is away from it all, snug and safe in a comfortable place.

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  2. Great analogy in your poem, Wendy, from frantic activity and excitement to the comfort and coziness of one's home. I also like the wistful tone of your poem, Wendy.

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  3. Thanks, Mary and Gabriella. Even, as a child, I have always had a sense of uncomfortable detachment at carnivals. Now, country fairs - on the other hand - WONDERFUL!

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  4. the orphan void...having worked with foster kids and such that brings a very real feel to me...interesting on your feel of detachment from the carnivals....they always feel like another world to me....

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  5. manic day... sounds like my days lately with all the end-of-year stuff!

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  6. Mood here well conveyed here. I felt there with that child.

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  7. carnival is good but mother's love is heavenly...love the spirit of the poem..so well penned Wendy :)

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  8. I really feel that touch of love and security with a mothers love.. Lovely words and such comfort.

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  9. I'm not much of a carnival fan either...crowds, noise, expensive games and rides, etc...I do like the colors and lights from a distance though, ha. I like the comfort, security and peace of a mother's kiss. Great contrast you brought for us in your poem!

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  10. Carousels were magical for me, and I became sad when the music stopped.

    Anyway, a thoughtful, enjoyable read. I'm picturing little Wendy snug and safe in her bed.

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  11. Ah-h-h-h. Very sweet of you, Janet. (Though I don't know if I ever qualified as "little" Wendy, though - sixty some years in - gawd knows . . . I tried. Super smiles.

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  12. Interesting how many of us have the same impression of carnivals... Tawdry, sinister, unsafe, insecure. You capture this unquiet mood well, Wendy, and the last stanza resolves the poem nicely.

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