Some Carnival Ride

At twilight’s fall, I see the course my ride has taken
Mapped back, how the sun rose at dawn
Felt the wheel begin to turn uphill, this was
That push, joy of muscle building, inching to the top
A struggle easing, to full power at the pinnacle
And at the pinnacle, I’d swung staring out
The Ferris-wheel paused before descent
Rocking briefly, surprised by the sinking sun
A breathtaking sight, the flood of darkening Pacific
Strapped in by a bar, the smell of metal on my hands
Light bulbs click on against this seeping twilight
The drop then, a cog by cog clunk, no effort in it now
All gravity elbowing me, the others, too, chunk in seats ahead
Each one set free to end our ride, how clearly my turn’s coming
Returning to the Magic Island earth, just dust
Every moment adding up, and now subtracting
A hindsight ride and forward waiting
The iron strap unhinging to set me free