A CARNIVAL VERSION OF ROMEO & JULIET
(This was a creative writing assignment last year.)

I remember watching them when I was young;
my mother always said, "Ignore them; they are dumb."
So I went my merry little way, riding all that I could.
However, I never spoke; back then were the days I was good.

One day I took a ride on the Flying Bobs.
Even back then, I was still one of the snobs,
and I wrinkled my tiny little nose in disgust;
that man with the shaggy hair and crooked smile I did not trust.

We flew in circles, going faster and faster.
That damned carnie was determined to be my master.
He at long last stopped the ride,
and I stepped out, itching to get his hide.

But I did nothing; I instead walked to the Spider.
I climbed into the seat; I was one expectant rider.
As I flew through the air, I saw the roof of Beall's.
We all screamed; we were unable to control ourselves.

The woman stopped the ride, mouth in a perpetual sour pucker.
As she set us free, we each gave a giant shudder.
We ran through the gate; I was as dizzy as a goose.
The slowest one us us became the quite unenvied "caboose."

"One more ride," all my friends and I said.
We turned and saw the Gee Wizz above our heads.
"Let's ride that one!" they exclaimed with glee.
"Ok," I said, and off we went, the cute boy I did not see.

"Ignore them; they are dumb," I recall Mama's words.
Of course, that is what is said of all lovebirds.
So I said, "Hi," and I found the courage to flirt.
Eventually, I stopped noticing "Evans United" on his shirt.

We talked and laughed; I learned his name.
After that nothing was really the same.
Though we really did try; he even asked me to be his wife;
none of our efforts succeeded in burying our parents' strife.

We were nothing but a pair of star-crossed lovers;
no matter what was said, in the air, the tension hovered.
It then came time to say our farewells;
I said, "Keep in touch," as he leaned over the rails.

That was the year I learned a very big lesson:
"Carnies" are like us; they too are human.
Never in my life will I forget
My could-have-been "carnie" Romeo asking me to be his Juliet.

I wanna go home!

Nah, I just wanna read more of this really cool poetry!