Like an all-inclusive, unescapable
Parade route through madness
Everybody loves this, so they say
Tossing candy, waving to the pretty lady
Saluting distant, vacant eyes
Papier-mâché boats, screaming horns
Wondering where the balloon
Will eventually land
As it slips from the child’s hand
And disappears into the blinding sun
The Stories In Between 
That was enjoyable.
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At least more tolerable than the real thing.
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No… It was like “Hey, isn’t this a little upbeat for River? Oh, THERE’S the depressing part”
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I love how you set the stage for emptiness and disappointment!
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Thank you!
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And the band
Played on
And the World
Continued to spin
As we all
Marched on
With sh&t
On our chins
Miscellaneous
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Good one!
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I always wonder where balloons land too, hopefully nowhere near an ocean. Love it when you post your poems.
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Thank you very much, Kate.
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Yes, that’s what we do. Love those parades not the balloon slipping from our hands! Wonderful River, loved this.
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Thank you very much, Holly.
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You’re very welcome. It’s my pleasure!
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Creates a vivid imagery in mind. Loved it 🙌🏼
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Thank you!
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Nice
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Thank you.
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Definitely going to follow your blog!
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Love it. I have to admit, the accompanying picture is quite unsettling!
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Thank you! Honestly, that picture is a good representation as to how I feel being surrounded by a lot of people and stimulation. My brain on crowds.
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Exactly how I feel!
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This brought back childhood memories of parades in the 1960s. I loved the floats, the costumes, the excitement in the crowd. But, thank goodness, I do not remember an ocean of tentacled-hands as in the featured photo. That is definitely creepy. Well done! 🙂
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Thank you very much, Sue.
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yes, love the imagery 💋
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I appreciate that, thank you.
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love it
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Thank you, Mandy.
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I have often wondered where those balloons land.
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Evocative imagery! I share your thoughts about crowds, too. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you very much!
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I am not my happiest inside crowds either, so this poem allowed me to follow a parade without actually having to deal with the noise and everything else. Very vivid!
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Thank you!
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You are welcome, River! Always a pleasure!
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I love how you show the crowd’s chaos juxtaposed with the lost balloon, we experience madness but are numb to it—but artist’s see life clearly and share their knowledge. The lost balloon especially resonates with me, it’s a heartbreak to lose the balloon, watch it drift forever away.
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Thanks for understanding where I was coming from.
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It’s a pleasure to read your poetry.
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I like this very much with its vivid imagery.
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Thank you.
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“Everybody loves this, so they say” as if there’s something wrong with us if we don’t love it. Depressing. Great poem nonetheless!
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Exactly. One of my few pleasures in life is witnessing the disappointment whenever the 4th of July fireworks get canceled.
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I can feel the heartbreak of a five year old whose eyes watches that balloon disappear. Yet, I think of the mothers who have lost their child and find themselves writing messages on balloons and letting them go.
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Thank you for reading, Phyllis.
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What an amazingly interesting perspective on a parade. I always thought there was a little something creepy about them. Like everyone seemed a bit unreal. Very well written. Thank you ❤️🤗
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Thank you very much for reading. I hope you are doing well.
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You are welcome it was my pleasure. Yes I am well, thank you River. 🤗
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Your writing is always so incredible 🙏🏾
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Thank you very much.
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