Anticipation swelling,
minute by minute by minute,
you choose to wait even
longer, to ride in the front
car
and finally it’s your turn.
They buckle you in, lock
the safety bar with a jolting clunk!
Hook engaged, the chain jerks
you forward. You start to
climb
crank-crank-crank.
Cresting the top, time
moves into overtime
as you wait for that scant
hesitation, just before you
drop
knowing you can’t turn back.
You know how you feel
at that instant? Well, that’s
exactly how it feels when you
shake hands with the
monster.
No Time Like That First Time
Fire! Your nose ignites,
flameless kerosene
(and, some say, Drano)
laced with ephedrine
you want to cry
powdered demons bite