The Rainbow Bridge

The Rainbow Bridge

The Carousel carries us round and round, payment made, the only sound
The music of Life, loud in our ears, the ride speeds up, slows down, changing gears.

Spinning faster, horses rise high, we meet the challenges you and I.
We tighten our grip on the Steed of Fate, as the scenery blurs and just a trace

Of smiling excitement spurs our lives, fingers greedily stretched towards the next prize.
Conscience provokes us to spare a seed, of sympathy for those in need,

Who dip below us on the ride, but all too soon our foolish pride
Persuades us our sympathies are misplaced, we will not allow them to spoil our race.

Our path is clear, fortunes to be made, love to be found, we should not trade
Our exalted position for those so poor, the ride goes on, our vision sure.

The Carousel slows, the horses drop, lower and lower, others rise to the top.
The dark fixed eyes of their horses so high, mockingly look down from their clearer skies.

That life we fought so hard to gain, tragically gone, we struggle to blame.
Now out of the race we stand aside, watching others continue their ride.

Bright lights of their lives dazzle and shine, we must make a choice, fight back or whine
That life is unfair, we’re unlucky, we’re cursed, all our grievances patiently nursed.

We pick ourselves up, try one more time, the ride slows down, back up we climb
Onto our Steeds of Fate, as weary as we.  Their ears prick up, let us just see

If one more effort will win this race, our horses rise, once more the pace
Speeds faster and faster, no time to breathe.  We determine once more the moment to seize.

We’re up, we’re down, we’re round and round.  The ride goes on along with the sound
Of the Music of Life, so loud in the air.  Bittersweet, sometimes hard to bear.

Lights finally dimmed, the night is dark, the music quietens, fear is a shadow in the park.
Our ride is done, we no more strive to be other than we are.  Our simple life

Is over, we dismount, where do we go?  We question “Is that all there is to the show?”
With fear at its height, a spark appears.  The light grows stronger, gone are the tears

As the Rainbow Bridge stretches and glows, signposting our way to the next Life show.

©Julie King  October 2018