Ain’t gonna ride the Tilt-a-Whirl no more
The thing got me dizzy when I closed my eyes
Even though the guy with the stick in his hand
Said not to do that before he pulled it back.

My stepfather wondered if I’d drunk something
All I knew was, I couldn’t walk straight for a
Week, and later, when I did the reading, I guessed
I had screwed up my inner ear when I shut eyed
And my balance for a long time after that

Guess the girl at the party knew that. That I was
Unbalanced I mean. Guess she was having a little fun,
Curling up next to me against an eggshell wall
And listening to me as if I knew what I was talking about

Okay, so she thought enough of me to let me kiss her.
Big deal. I’d been kissed before. Okay again. I didn’t
Want anyone to kiss me after her, and for a long time
No one did, which goes to show, we’re not all snakes

She took me on some ride, I have to say. It lasted
Almost three years and I got more out of it than I
Ever put in if I’m honest. But I also gave back what
I never knew I had, and nothing’s been the same since

There’s people who trail in her wake who shoulda
Known me in the way back when. I think, to some
Degree, I cheated everyone I met afterwards
And definitely held back a card or two from my hand

I notice the guy pulling back on the stick now because
I never go into anything without my eyes wide open.
It’s a good way to be if you want to keep your balance
But every now and again, I wonder what it would be like

To ride the Tilt-a-Whirl, I mean

06/09/2011

Posted on 06/09/2011
Copyright © 2025 Ken Harnisch