Snapshots of Summer

The amusement park whirled
with color and music,
the air sweet with the scent
of funnel cake
and cotton candy.

Your smiles that day shone
as bright as the afternoon sun.
Laughter bubbling up
as you rode the bumper cars together –
joy captured in my mind,
like photographs
pressed between the pages of a book.

Little girl with your curls
flung wild on the tilt-a-whirl
spinning, spinning,
looking so grown up in the
midway lights.

Little boy, not so little anymore,
giggling on the twirling tea-cup ride,
joy shimmering
like stars
in your eyes.

Your father and I
held your hands
each of us in turn,
hoping to tether you both
to the moment

… for just a little longer.

But childhood is fleeting
fading like the music of the carousel
echoing softly behind us
as we made our way home