Don’t Look Back

Haunting imagery of dilapidated carnival rides rusting away.

now collapsed on ground covered in muck and disarray.

Dangling and squeaking parts soon to detach,

joining the other ones piled around the thatch.

Once joy, happiness and carefree laughter ruled the day.

Now, silent eeriness keeps rotting all away.

Electric-driven rides thrilled throngs long ago,

all disconnected, though rusty remains show.

How many riders were dying or dead just like these rides.

Morbid thoughts doled out where gruesomeness resides.

A chilling creepiness cloaked me till I broke down;

weak in my knees, I collapsed to the ground.

Suddenly, someone cartwheeled over me.

How could that possibly be?

I gasped, worried heavy metal nearly crushed me.

Looking around, I saw nothing nearly ending my destiny.

This depressing former carnival ground,

took my imagination for a ride so unsound.

Time to leave and head homeward bound.

Here isn’t the place where much can be found.

Music? Do I hear music? It was getting louder,

and coming from behind my right shoulder.

As I turned around, rides lit up,

and were running.

Riders were laughing and screaming;

I had to be dreaming.

My mouth was wide open in bewilderment.

A colorful clown cartwheeled around me with merriment,

shouting "Follow me, follow me! Let the fun begin!”

I followed him past open booths and revelers’ loud din.

"How is this possible?" I asked, as I started to look back.

"Don't look back! Don't ever look back! Move forward — on track.”

Making no sense at all, I wanted to look back.

I tried not to, but curiosity made me crack.

Just a peek to see what was going on behind;

lights out, music stopped, without a clown to find.

Only one distant whisper where I fell off track…

"I told you to never look back.”