Kinetic

The merry-go-round hums, a spinning wheel
of bodies blurring, some sitting, some standing,
sneakered feet running, stirring up dirt,
white-knuckled, building speed
until a final, desperate leap of faith
and they too enjoy the ride.

Swings fly high, slicing the air,
returning to earth, a breathless pause
as feet stomp and shove, stomp and shove,
spines arching back, then launching up,
up into the empty sky, feeling free,
contemplating the final flight,
measuring the suspended moment between
a clean dismount and a bloody knee.

The slide bakes, a silver pizza oven,
shiny metal both blinding and mesmerizing,
an iron ladder daring the climb,
sit and launch, a scorching rush of speed
to stick the landing on your feet
instead of crashing, bottom down,
legs splayed, head just missing the edge.

Locked on the seesaw,
I gauge the physics of trust,
up and down, a shared weight,
knees bend, a light push off,
enjoying the breeze we make together,
until you suddenly step off.
The ground hits hard, as the world,
miraculously, remains in motion.





Poetry by Melinda K Zarate The PoetBay support member heart!
Written on 2026-09-21 at 00:32

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