Poetry of Life

Eventually I found my way out of the horrid carnival and met up with Koraki again. Never make me leave you like that, He said, rubbing his head against my cheek. "I promise." I told him.

~~~~~~~~~

After the chaos that ensued our outing, I was quite glad when the vacant lot was once again free of any roadside menace. It was refreshing to continue with my calming and uneventful walks. I knew that I was to enjoy it while I could. Nothing stayed uneventful in Watershed for long. Look, Koraki said. I followed his line of sight to a girl standing, watching a robbery take place. She was so dark with soot it took me a while to realise that she was the goth girl who lived in my building. She was watching several idiot humans try to steal an entire ATM machiene. I didn't pay any attention to them, they were morons, beneath my notice. But something about her captivated me. She just watched with an open stare, not caring a bit about the ash that covered her from head to toe. What do you think she is thinking about? Koraki asked. I loved how we were so connected that he knew the robbery would be of no interest to me. "I think she is finding poetry." I replied.

Tongues that Lick the Sky

You saw the strangest things at carnivals. Creepy clowns hand in hand with women, goths with trash bags, something that wreathed inside the ball pit, but still no exit.
"It is like they don't want you to get away." I said to Koraki. Which was most likely exactly the point. But Koraki was not paying attention, and was looking over his shoulder where the din of the crowd was growing.
Something is going on, he said. I turned to see what he meant, and was nearly run over by the crowd of people rushing past me to get away. Smoke rose over the tops of the tents and at that moment there was a small explosion as the bootlegger's alcohol burst into flames.
Fire! Koraki yelled. Panic welled up inside of me. How were we ever to get away if we could not find the exits?
"Fly! Get away from here!" I yelled at him, trying to throw him into the sky. But he just dug his talons deeper into my shoulder.
I am not leaving you here!
"Go!" I said again. "If I perish, I will join you soon in the sky!"
Koraki gave me a look of extreme sorrow and guilt before he flew away, disappearing into the smoke and out of sight.
"Be safe my love..." I sighed after him.

Freaks

I had not been to a carnival since I was a girl. I remembered the sights, the smells, the gay little cries of children rushing past with balloons and cotton candy in hand as carnival music played in the background...
Gilbert's Carnival at Watershed Heights could not have been more different. It was dingy and dirty, with stale food and out of tune music. Sword eaters and flame breathers walked around in the crowds, sineging peoples hair. A little girl was walking around with a prize she had won that looked like a shaggy pillow with teeth. I was presently trying to leave, but the enterance had been only one way, and the exits were no where to be found. The only reason I had come at all was to ride the ferris wheel as I had done as a girl, but that looked so dangerous that I dared not even step near it.
Corbie, watch out, Koraki cautioned. I looked to see a little monkey in a suit sticking his hand in my purse. Koraki cawed with rage, and pecked the little theif until he ran back to his organ grinder with a scream.
I do not like this place, Koraki confided as I skirted around the town mutt.
"Niether do I." I agreed.
The trailer of freaks caught my eye.

COME ONE COME ALL

TO THE LARGEST COLLECTION

OF GOD'S MISTAKES THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN!

BEHOLD

THE GIANT

THE DWARF

THE ALLIGATOR GIRL

THE BEARDED LADY

THE TWO HEADED MAN

AND SO MUCH MORE!

"How horrible." I noted with a shiver.

No one should have to endure this, Koraki said sternly.

"All of those poor people..."

I will be very thankful when we have left this place.

I nodded in agreement.

Come. Let us keep looking for the way out.