brass bands

The carousel rings
and you reach to grab
the circle that hangs
where you can't quite nab -
Well you're not quite sure
what it means. Free rides?
But you woke up here
You were born inside, so

- why reach at all?

Brass bands or gold
they shine out such promise
to have, to hold, but you can't
have your cake
and hold it, too.

Or wait - actually, you can

it's a bit of a mess, though - you
there holding your cake
in your hand while you have it, and eat it?
Mistake! All icing and crumbs, as the band

comes to beats and blows, blasting hot
shrill swing jazz licks, bums nobody knows,
cake-walking on stage! To a boom
and a bop
on staccato toms,
in the throes of snare, with a snap
crack crash of thumping drums,

and a bleat

and a honk
of brass,

the evening hums.
Comes alive and takes you where

You already were

With a ring in hand.
You have one free ride,
care to slip it on? You might

as well dance. Just
to beat the band