Fairground Carousel

A bit of lighthearted whimsy, now have you looked at their expressions?

The horses on the carousel

look out of sorts, they don't look well.

It's not the paint that makes them sick,

their glossy colours bright and slick.

It's not the riders riding round

or music playing fairground sounds.

It's not because they need to eat

or have to rest from too much heat.

Their features show their simply bored.

The lives they lead are sadly flawed.

All that turning just to please,

it's all a matter of degrees.

For they would rather roll in hay

or better still run off to play.

Reviews

[¿]

Your beautiful soul heard it all of the voiceless....their way of giving us amusement has always been ignored...I also had thought about it at a visit to park and watching the merry go round...
You're really caring Christine to write this...thanks for sharing dear😊

[Chris Shaw]

I sat their watching while my grandchildren were having fun, and the expressions on the faces of those carousel horses were priceless.

[¿]

Yess friend...silent but speaking faces!

[Chris Shaw]

Very much so ;))

[Neville]

Fair enough, but I reckon I would rather be one o them than a goldfish our Chris .. at a fairground that is .. :) Neville

[Chris Shaw]

Yes the life of a fairground goldfish was neva a long one. Usually deceased before you arrived home with it. Thanks for the smile and the visit Neville :)

Chris

[jpshadow]

This is truly beautiful poetry, it's an amazing gift that people have in them to write

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Chris... there is a children’s song... “Tomorrow we’ll go to the Fair... we’ll ride pretty horses with wind in our hair...” and so forth. Love the painted horses and the Gold Ring... but most of all I love real horses who dance in the field and run and play and eat hay! hugs, Pat

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Pat. Nothing like real horses, magnificent creatures. I'd rather watch them any time. Thanks for your lovely response. Hugs back at you.

[Patricia Wedel]

When my children were young, they rode a Merry go round where each horse was individually hand painted... beautiful Art.... and real horses are lived by heart... I need to be inspired to write a poem... where is my muse.... Happy Fourth of July!!! Pat

[Chris Shaw]

Hope your muse finds you Pat and that you had a very happy 4th July.

[Crowley]

There are a lot of people like this as well...lol. Stuck in a rut. What a great analogy, the carousel always brings to me nostalgia and family, but maybe there is something more sinister afoot. Great Writing, loved it!!!

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Crowley, there are people like that indeed. I wasn't thinking that when I wrote these lines, but you are absolutely right. It's great to get responses like yours, where you bring something new to the table.

Chris

[Terathopius]

Really nice piece. You really captured the feeling of drudgery those pony ride horses at fairs and the like must feel. I always felt bad seeing them, having grown up with horses myself, made to carry brats in a circle in the hot summer. I'd want to be free too, lol.
I just have two things I'd like to note. "Rider's" in the second stanza, first line, does not need the apostrophe. The second "their" in the third line's first stanza should be "they're". I'm not trying to be condescending or snarky or anything, I hope it helps.

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Terathopius, your review and edits very welcome. I get a bit careless with my grammar in the heat, and it is unusually hot. Your visit here very much appreciated.

Chris

[Terathopius]

I'm glad I could help you, Chris. Keep up the good work!

[Derekv]

Awesome poem, it makes me feel sorrow for the animals that are used for human entertainment. They are treated like inanimate objects, with such little respect.

Keep up the great work, and thanks for sharing this wonderful piece!

-Derekv

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Derekv, for your lovely response. Your avatar is awesome by the way.

Chris

[Derekv]

You're welcome! :)

[Davidgeo]

You could apply this to most human occupations I think. At least the ones people work just to pay the bills.

My sister has been showing horses for most the past 30 years, most of them were far too stupid to know how to be disappointed but some of them, you could tell, they just wanted nothing to do with the bit and saddle. Sadly those traits are usually bred out of the good show horses. But I think deep down in their stupid horse brains they'd rather be free to run around all day.

Zebras aren't really much different from horses. They are bigger, stronger and of course the stripes and s**t but they are basically the same animals. Still no one has ever been able to "break" a zebra into a rideable, docile animal. And if they could they certainly would... zebra racing would be far cooler than horse racing.

The county fair is coming up in my area sometime next week, I'll be thinking of this then.

[Chris Shaw]

If you remember anything I've written in a weeks time, that's a result for me David. Thank you for your review. Much appreciated.

Chris

[Davidgeo]

I smoke a lot of weed... my memory kinda sucks. Sorry.

[Chris Shaw]

I admire your honesty (lol)

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree Chris.
"For they would rather roll in hay
or better still run off to play"
You made me feel and understand your thoughts. Carousel horses are lock-up and not free. Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for reading my bit of whimsical poetry Coyote. Happy that you enjoyed the read.
read moreThank you for reading my bit of whimsical poetry Coyote. Happy that you enjoyed the read.

Chris

[Coyote Poetry]

I enjoyed the whimsical poetry Chris and you are welcome.

[Onlyme]

You really do feel for the horses and them having to perform over and over again. To please others. And them just fading into the background like they were never there. Just objects to be used and abused. Wonderful sightful though provoking poem Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Dee, for responding. Always good to see you on my page.

Chris

[Onlyme]

I lovely coming to read your words. ☺

[Dave Brown]

another very nice effort
brings back the sorry sight of paid for horseback rides, where the poor creatures always followed the same path day after day, never responding to the rein, with their heads hanging just off the ground.
Better now that wood ponies handle the task

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Dave for checking in. happy that you enjoyed the read.

Chris