It is a collision of youth,
children of all sizes and ages
slamming into one another.
Searching out the crashes, really.
Laughing honestly after each strike.
In those bumper cars of various colours,
powered by an electric rod that curves
at the top near the ceiling of the ride.
Sometimes a parent is steering
for the young ones, their first time
in such a contraption.
Hoping the ride operator
will prolong the pummeling,
but he seldom does.
Each ram upon another,
it is in the messes that we find
our fix.
I wonder what the insurance guy
would think if he were watching
such a thing.
Probably about premiums
going up,
policyholders and their
misunderstood deductibles.
He brings his work home,
and even to the county fair.
.
Ryan Quinn Flanagan
Picture Nick Victor
.