Ferris Wheel

On the Ferris Wheel of life we hold our breaths

During the slow and tedious ascents

When our feet are dangling in nervous suspense

The excitement building with each steady rise

White-knuckled against the calm of the skies

Awaiting the moment when our hopes will sink

Trusting in our soul’s determination to survive.

There is that moment before the final descent

The whole world stretched out at our fingertips

A reverent but charged pause at the beauty of life

Before we plummet downward into terror and strife

Making our last confessions as we cling on tight

Sailing downward, stomachs lurching, lost in the night

Facing our worst fears in a rapid free-fall

Still reeling as our plunge into the depths begins to stall.

Then with a nervous laugh we admit that we survived

Hearts racing with hope, determinedly alive

Having outlasted the incomprehensible descent

We turn to each other a say: “Let’s try again!”