"Carousel"
You curled your hair
and polished your lips
with hope of things to
come
and took your place in
line.
Paid the man a dime,
lifted your skirt
carefully above the dusty steps
and gingerly picked
your pony.
Seated high upon a
jewel encrusted horse
you tell yourself the
time has finally come,
this is the moment you
are seen.
But baby this ain't
your carousel,
you've fallen once
again
for the plastic stones
and glued-on smiles
of an equestrian
centrifuge
separating the
beautiful.... from you.
The cream rises up to
lips you long to kiss
and once again, you
find the bottom filled
with the residue of
your dreams.
And yet, like a fool,
you remain.
It's just a plastic
horse,
a ride around a useless
axis
where you cling to
cheap leather reigns
as if at any moment you
might break free
and land in the arms of
the love you long await.
Girl it's such a shame
how you long to change
your name
and move out to the
city where life is still the same.
This ain't your
carousel
and if you don't get
off,
you'll get dizzy from
the noise of reality spinning around you.
Beneath your sleeves of
lace
you make a tally mark
for every face
of every man who ever
said he loved you.
And like a fool, you
paint your nails
hold your head up high
and blush your cheeks
to hide disgrace
as you pay the man
again.
One more dime,
one more time.
True love still awaits.
One more round,
your fate is found
you swear it's not too
late.
Honey, just step down;
you're a one trick pony
in a one horse town
and those shoes won't
take you anywhere
except circles 'round
your heart.
But you adjust your
dress
and smooth your hair
a you turn your eyes
from me.
And as the music starts
I hear you whisper,
“Someday, a Lady I'll
be.”
