read the judge's notes on "Ferris Wheel"
read Bo Lockwood's "The Viking Ship"
"Ferris Wheel"
by Bo Lockwood
How: from a distance, mounted in darkness,
the rhinestone structure sparkles, ringed
in a halo of its own light. Languid,
its silent spokes stir the night;
it rolls along a river of trees
as we rocket towards
the unmade country roads.
These fallen fields are struck this time of year
with a bloom of high-pitched brilliance;
wide colors of tents flourish
in dirt. And at night, the dark machines
uncurl their starburst arms
and glitter with the flutter of a pulse.
I remember the colors
that cut into the sky,
circuits of synchronized lights
that spilled over signs, and split
into dancing swarms.
It is easy to be swept up in the parade
washing behind cascades of trivial prizes
made valuable by their place.
I remember wanting, or thinking I should want
one of the regiment of horrible bears stuffed
near to bursting with gaudy orange and white.
From hooks inside the tops of the tents they hung
out of reach.