state fair! <br />skinny teens <br />chubby adults <br />leisurely stroll <br />along aisles of bright attractions <br />and food, food, food <br />amid a riot of colors and lights <br /> <br />big barns <br />huge supine pigs <br />a tiny short-legged goat <br />looks me in the eye <br />cuteness grabs me by the throat <br />smell of chicken shit <br />rabbit shit <br />horse shit <br />cow shit <br />back to the earth reminder <br />shit is it! <br /> <br />thirsty <br />we buy $5 beer <br />expensive yes <br />but we're glad we're here <br /> <br />photo exhibit <br />images of wonder <br />landscapes, people-scapes <br />God's variety silently shouts like thunder <br /> <br />a rodeo announcer <br />loves his twangy baritone <br />as he rambles on and on <br />gals on horseback ride in tandem <br />waving to a clapping crowd <br />we envy their ease at full gallop <br />and we cheer for the calf <br />who eludes a chasing roper <br />foiled by the runt <br /> <br />ecuadorian band <br />in simple white shirts <br />blue jeans <br />and brown modest faces <br />stir something deep inside <br />keeps us glued to our places <br /> <br />happy dogs with happy tongues <br />chase frisbees <br />with agile, athletic canine grace <br />we in the bleachers <br />ooh and aah <br />amazed at dogs and human teachers <br /> <br />jugglers and clowns <br />make us laugh <br />with clever jokes <br />dandy dexterity <br />and excited kids on stage <br /> <br />overhead tram at dusk <br />take us on a bird's eye view <br />of the Oregon State Fair <br />people amble and scurry like mice below <br />as we notice from the air <br /> <br />lights from ferris wheel <br />and a massive sling-shot <br />silhouetted bodies hurled, toes to the sky! <br />distant screams <br />pierce the summer air <br /> <br />and far beyond <br />a long strand of trees <br />and quiet sunset <br />frames the fair cacophony <br />Nature's arms, serene, <br />wrap us in her care<br /><br />Harlan Simantel<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/state-fair/
