Short Stories by Matt Slater

Carousel, Carousel

Carousel, Carousel

Spinning wooden horses

Watch the colors fly by

You and me, me and you,

Kids riding horses

Chasing euphoric highs

Growing up, going up

We have to go to school

We sign up for sports and clubs

not much, not enough

time we have left

to ride the wooden horses

Teenage years, College days

We have to get jobs

We have to get ready for life

schoolwork, work hours

take over our days

no more time for the merry-go-round

Adulthood, maturity

Cars, posts, and meetings

Where has our playfulness gone?

Dating, networking

wining and dining

We don't even think about carousels

Parenthood, family

Children in our lives

remind us of simpler times

memories, pastimes

now in the present

being created again

Carousel, carousel

the kids want to ride

mesmerized by twirling colors

tugging arms, pulling sleeves

leading us to the horses

asking to join them today

Carousel, carousel

All worries aside

No more thoughts of adult life

for it's time to toss it all aside

to be kids again, be free again,

riding those painted wooden horses

Carousel, Carousel.