Poetry - "Variations on a Theme Park"

Nag nag nag,
that's all she ever does,
the child clinging to my arm.

Why she wants to go
on this particular ride baffles me;
surely someone will come to harm
on that monstrous contraption
of thrills spills and action?

The line of people edges forwards,
allowing me ample time to
contemplate the foolishness
of my giving in so quickly.

My knees begin to tremble;
surely I'm not really letting myself in for
that?!
Accelerated to 3g,
Spun through 360 degrees,
all to please this vile creature, clinging
slightly more tightly to my arm now.

Two more turns to go, me struck dumb
and my arm going numb.

We're next. The roller coaster's homing in on us
FAST.

I feel a tug on my blood-drained arm;
"Daddy, I need to go to the toilet."

"You can wait" I state, snarling through
gritted teeth,
and force us both to endure the ride
I didn't want to go on
in the first place.


This poem is featured in the anthology Warts & All.