English Psychedelic Whimsy #1

Looking out of the back bedroom, 
        beyond the orchard, 
beyond the stream, 
beyond sleep…
A brief glimpse of a fairground - kaleidoscope eyes, 
the world looks better from a candyfloss tree…
as toffee apples slide down the helter-skelter ride
whilst the magpie swoops from the edge of a hedge
a caterpillar train creeps in and out the drains 
and the butterfly leaves float away on the breeze
the gentle soothing feel of grass growing through toes 
an ancient Wurlitzer plays a requiem for the lost Bossa-Nova beat
worn brakes of summer shudder to a halt in a slip road
dead dog hot-dog stands do unfathomable business
fresh tarmac masks the stench of midweek excess
showground elves on a cigarette break, burn holes in the sky
and gold cascades from heaven… 
in a sugar-soaked trance, the liquid light show evocation begins
a flamingo stand’s aloof by the giant teapot 
while poltergeists chatter round the back of the haunted house
the ghost train rumbles round the track (ah-hoo)
delicate little proto-zombies stagger/lurch right/left
numbed goldfish dizzy with the dash swim head-on crash
the tarot fraud hides the truth behind polka dot headscarf
and the freshman in a scarlet tunic disappears in the shifting crowd            
and...

    all the while 
a young child
in the bad room
keeps staring
at the moon
keeps talking 
to the moon
“Where does the rest of you go?”
“Where does the rest of you go?”
“Where does the rest of you go?”
 
The rocking horse in the corner of the cold room, watches the child talking to the moon and says nothing. A Spider waits on the grandfather clock…

…The clock strikes thirteen.