Walworth County… “It’s so noisy at the Fair, but all your friends are there”

(with thanks to Neil Young, and dedicated to my Daddy Harold)

Cotton candy clouds;
mounds of icy fleece across the skies
Cotton candy cones;
mounds of sug’ry filaments spun so high.

Rings of ponies painted white,
Rings of travellers ‘gainst the night

Carousel horses stately prance,
Ferris wheel lights circle dance.

Ears of corn, corn-dipped dogs;
Blue ribbon pies, blue-ribbon hogs

Thud of beanbags, clang of bell,
Main-stage performers before day’s knell.

Tired feet, and tired children
Mid-way barks; nowhere for sittin’

Plush stuffed toys that no one’s winning
Travel to another day’s beginning.

Ronda R. Scott-Marak
© 27 May 2015

Who knows where the Time Goes?

(With thanks to Sandy Denny)

Yesterday the world had hope;
each new day was springtime, even in November.

We believed in our objectives
in peace, equality, possibilities, independence;
all we needed was love… Love was all we’d need.

Yesterday we changed the world;
we made love instead of war unless the war was inequality.

We trusted our battles were righteous, our victories lasting;
we marched to end hatred, poverty, segregation.

Yesterday we held hands;
we held strong against hate, against fear, against wrongs,
we stood with our heads high or sat with others against tyranny and fear.

Yesterday we succeeded in changing the world;
but now it’s today, and the world’s been changed anew.

Ronda R. Scott-Marak 
© 19 May 2015

“Let Me Call You Sweetheart”

(For Lolly)

A dozen years have sneaked up on me;
it’s really been that long since Twenty 0 Three.

Twelve years of living through pleasure, and pain;
gains, hopes, and losses are all that remain…
except the memories, the joyful anticipation, hope.

It still shines through:
sometimes reflected in crystal and tears;
in clear cups of tea, through windscreens, and rear-facing mirrors.

My stubborn Grandma is long gone… wasn't twelve years a blink ago?
Her 100^th birthday seems last week ‘though lifetimes have come and gone since then.

The family lost, the friendships gained…
It’s a dozen years, and the world has changed.

Ronda R. Scott-Marak 
© 17 May 2015

Life is a Wheel… for Sir John and Dame Cleo

 (With thanks and love to Sir John Dankworth)

Every day

my mind reels, my head spins with notions and emotions.

Every night 

the world spins, while storytellers spin their truths.

Every year 

around the sun we spin, trying to keep our balance.

Spinning mobiles 

over babies’ beds, 

Spinning tires 

under children’s bikes,

Spinning axles 

under bus and car,

Spinning wheels under seniors’ chairs;

Spinning hands 

on clock face dials

Turn, turn, turn… Our lives all spin.

Ronda R. Scott-Marak

©13 May 2015