We came for all the rides.
Not much money in our pockets
but it was all so much cheaper
back then too.
A couple of quid (pounds)
got us plenty of those and
maybe some candy floss too.
There were boat swings
and chair planes
ghost trains to ride
a Ferris wheel to sit atop
(and get stuck when it broke down)
if you felt so inclined.
The bumper cars were fun
yeah,
I was fourteen and so sure I could drive
(not)
right into the front, back and sides
of anyone in the way.
The switchback, the waltzer, I hated those
the carousel was a bore but the side stalls
excited, especially the guns.
Oh, how I loved to shoot those pellet guns
at the little metal men, knock them all down
win another free go and off I’d go again.
Even with their sights all bent
(just to make it harder to win)
somehow, I always won.
Don’t think they liked me much
but then, I walked away with a big fluffy
teddy bear so, I didn’t care.
Used to feel so sorry for the goldfish
tied up in plastic bags, no air to breath
nowhere to move, hung up in heat all day.
The darts, the hoops, the plastic ducks
all waiting to be hooked.
The noise, the music, the screams
the joy all carried on the air.
The smell of hot dogs and fried onions
burgers, fish and chips
along with
pink and white candy floss on sticks
and toffee apples
upon which to break our teeth.
The rain that came and never left
’till every step we took was mud
and we’d end up caked in it all
covered in the stuff
swearing we’d never come back
and yet
there we were as soon as the fair
showed up in town once more.
~*~
© Daydreamertoo *All rights reserved
*Pics are all Google images
Shared with dVersePoets Poetics: The Fair
Fabulous memories–I really liked the opening stanzas; you set the scene so well. And the mud!
The rain that came and never left
’till every step we took was mud
and we’d end up caked in it all
covered in the stuff – Oh goodness yes I remember that – slipping and sliding – yes those poor goldfish – Aw do you remember the coconuts too just came to mind – yes it was affordable then – well just about – great piece – 🙂 love lib
A great collection of memories from the fair days…really well done!
Man! You hit all the stops and tasted all the goodies. I bet you went to bed with a big smile on your face after a day at the fair like that one!
http://charleslmashburn.wordpress.com/2012/05/26/all-wide-eyed-and-loving-me/
Evokes memories of those fun fairs that came to our village in the 50’s and 60’s along with real gypsy horse drawn caravans. The ones they sold to the hippies so they could buy mobile homes.
If I was still hesitating at the gate, this would draw me in, I’m sure.
the bumper cars and yellow ducks, yes! I forgot about ferris wheels getting stuck cause they did, alot.
Loved the goldfish reference, I believe there was a whole poem right there!
you touch so many senses. i feel sorry for the gold fish too
/roller coaster of dysfunction
I felt as if I was right there with you trudging through the mud, smelling all the wonderful fair food. Very nicely done!
what a great mish mash remembrance of smells and sights and rides, knew you had been there while i felt back there myself 😉
all the more reason, as you say,
“swearing we’d never come back
and yet
there we were as soon as the fair
showed up in town once more.”
The fun fairs are always fun… I never won a fuzzy teddy bear though I tried…although I did win a lovely statue of a horse once…my mother really did not want to give me the money for the clowns”you won’t win anything…it’s a waste of money.” She had to eat her words that day…all those pics and your poem reminded me of that!!!
These are such great memories… especially the bumper cars and goldfish… I wonder if they still do that? When we went the kids got to ride a camel.
Thanks for a fun time at the fair. You captured it well. I’m glad the rain held off till the end. I don’t think I ever saw those poor goldfish, though. I probably blocked it out.
Ah, yes, I always felt sad for the goldfish too, wondering if those who won them would really take care of them. Never tried those shooting games. Knew I’d never win anyway. But there def was magic when the fair or carnival appeared….
Yeah, this was such a great write for all the ground it covered, like a virtual map of the fair. very cool and the photos are awesome that you had them handy
Sadly I don’t have much of a jingle in my pockets either, but still fun at the fair, yeah muddy it always seems to be.
I enjoyed going back in time to your fair grounds….and yes, why is it always muddy ~ Nice one Bren ~
Hahaha….it made me laugh too……no money in pockets…,nice 🙂
And the way you described the fair is amazing….loved it…
Well done you! You’ve got everything bar the kitchen sink in here, fantastic mood and feel. If I’ve missed anything blame Eurovision!
ha yes…all those gold fish hanging in bags…how sad for sure…so much to do at the fair…loving hte smells too…and come to think of it we did pick up a bit of mud at the fair…fun write bren
oh nice..enjoyed this…my fav was always the chairoplane.. and i never shot…maybe i should try next time…just because of that fluffy teddy bear..
Some things never change…
Let’s go … let’s go, Bren … meet you at the corner 🙂
That last stanza cracked me up! It is always muddy, isn’t it?