Candy Floss

When I was young,

I remember liking carnivals.

Carnivals that came to town,

Every few months.

Months when the seasons change,

Months when my mother,

My father and I went

To that one carnival ground.

The ground that had lots,

Lots of memories in them.

Memories of joy, of crowds,

Of clamour, of songs.

Of cats, of dogs,

Of elephants, of lions,

Of food, of drinks,

Of ice creams and of candy floss sticks.

I remember going there,

This one time with my folks.

We went here, we went there,

We were pretty much everywhere.

Until they stopped, I didn’t.

I had but too much energy,

I roamed around and away,

Away from them, I got lost.

I was lost, I got afraid,

I wasn’t prepared,

I searched here, there

I searched everywhere.

I couldn’t find them.

Before I knew, tears,

Yes, tears came forth,

Down they poured.

Disoriented and spent was I,

Sat down to cry,

An old lady sat down,

Next to me, flashed me a smile.

She gave me candy floss,

It shone against the light,

Much like her hair,

Much like my tears.

Soon I was busy chewing away,

My woes forgotten, not lost

Lost any more, I didn’t feel.

The old lady’s smile,

A smile I still remember,

A smile that makes me rejoice,

And remember that sweet candy floss,

In a carnival I was lost.

My folks found me,

I was asleep, on her lap,

The old lady, wasn’t the richest,

Her bowl empty, the little she had,

The little she had,

With it she bought candy floss,

For a little crying boy,

The candy floss of love, of purity.

Purity of soul, the old lady had

I still have the stick.

I remember that sweet candy floss,

In the carnival I was lost.

S. Narayanswamy