FAIRGROUND ADVENTURE
Love never took me this way before
My heart drowning in promenade rain
You never cut me this way before
My heart bleeding a gutter of pain
It never struck me this way before
Now that you’re leaving, I’m breaking the chain
Oh, this is my day. I’m tearing away
I’m running for the end of the pier
A thousand faces smile at the sun
A liberty call, I’ve just got to run
No turnstile ticket. No freedom to ride
This fairground adventure’s my passion inside
A rush of excitement and candyfloss eyes
A leap into heaven, silver lining blue skies
I’m leaving reflection’s white railing behind
Reclaiming emotion that’s naturally blind
Working my passage, split at the seams
A harbour of doubt for a deckchair of dreams
I’m throwing my heart overboard with delight
Running to catch it, holding on tight
Oh, this is my day. I’m tearing away
I’m running for the end of the pier
A thousand faces smile at the sun
A liberty call, I’ve just got to run
No turnstile ticket. No freedom to ride
This fairground adventure’s my passion inside
A rush of excitement and candyfloss eyes
A leap into heaven, silver lining blue skies
This fun-fair attraction turns wheels in my mind
My search is for freedom, this diamond’s my find
It glitters, I’m punch drunk, heart pounding so fast
I’m gonna be me, now. Just, please let it last
Oh, this is my day. I’m tearing away
I’m running for the end of the pier
Yes. This is my day. I’m tearing away
I’m running for the end of the pier….
Tim Coburn
January, 2003
Copyright © Tim Coburn
All Rights Reserved
FAIGROUND ADVENTURE
Notes
When I wrote Fairground Adventure, I was longing to break free, cast care aside and leap into the unknown. I really did feel like running off the end of the nearest pier! Anyway, I didn’t – except in the fantasy of the poem. Read as a song with a bit of pace, it always leaves me feeling excited about the future and glad to be heading in that direction.
FIND YOUR VOICE
Writing a poem is an adventure into new territory. Poetic form has a different phraseology to conversational prose – it changes the boundaries of how we usually speak. For expressive clarity, poetry uses more imagery, metaphor and story. Words and meaning are more deliberately considered. As well as making sense in written words, poetry conveys its meaning in sound and how it makes us feel. To make a poem work, our vocabulary is stretched, our word hoard expanded and our vocal identity enriched.
The development of vocal identity extends to every aspect of your life – your voice is the medium by which you get things done. With communication and conversational skills so central to who we are as human beings, I have always been interested in the effect writing poetry has on the clarity, confidence and effectiveness with which we talk. I addition to sharing poetry and my reflections on it, I offer short talk and workshops for leaders, team members and technical specialists who want to improve the quality and impact of their voice.
If this appeals to you, please get in touch.
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