HERSHEY PARK, 1950

Come with me. I have coins
in my pocket and the day is ten o'clock
new and cool. We will dash past
the merry-go-round to the mill

chute and stand in line behind
girls who toss their heads and crack
their gum. We'll hear the dummy
woman's cackling laughter at

the funhouse but will not go in.
We have been forbidden to go in.
At the bumping cars we will stand
next to the measuring post. You

may be just tall enough this year
to reach the pedals and I could
ride with you. For a break we can
stand on the walking bridge and

watch grown-ups toss bread chunks
to the carp as couples glide by
underneath in rented canoes. If we
run out of money, we can still go

to the fence and watch the Comet cars
climb slowly to the top of the track,
see them come almost to a stop,
then plunge down, down.

We'll wonder if, when we are old
enough, we will have the courage
to raise our arms and show off
like those guys sitting in the front car.