The painted horse went round and round,
spinning to the calliope’s tinny sound.
She looked out at her parents’ smiles,
forgot the night-times for a while.
She wanted it to never end,
the painted horse her only friend.
For a time she could forget
the drinking, violence, uttered threat.
Happiness was a string of tickets,
her dad bought at the grated wicket:
ticket to a land of dreams
where she forgot those night-time screams.
Its big brown eye, its painted smile,
escape for just a little while;
her eyes of blue, wondering
and sad -
she waved each time she passed her dad.
She dreamed, she
dreamed
of a real horse with
kind eyes
in a green field,
and a white house of
peace
in the background,
so pretty it was almost real.
for Shay's prompt at Fireblossom Friday: Ticket
I wonder sometimes that the houses don't scream out in the night from all that comes to pass within them. Such a sad poem Sherry. I hope the little girl gets her dream someday.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of that song, "Luka" by Suzanne Vega. Sometimes dreaming is all a person has.
ReplyDeleteThis is so poignant, Sherry! I can picture her as she "looked out at her parents’ smiles." The last stanza tugs at my heart.. sigh..
ReplyDeleteReminiscent of Joni Mitchell's Circle Game, Sherry. I haven't been on a carousel for such a long time - now I feel I must run off and find one!
ReplyDeleteA heart-rending poem. I could see it all through the child's eyes.
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling that this might be moment that saves her until she can leave. Bruised but alive.
ReplyDeleteThis is so sad.
ReplyDeleteSo beautifully crafted, this heart-breaking tale. One I'm all too familiar with. Wonderful write, Sherry!
ReplyDelete