1967 Iowa State Fair

jalapeno peppers parading their truth proudly making the fried tortilla laugh oranges and the brightest azure blues the sizzle of a skillet my mouth salivates strumming of a banjo bluegrass music and cotton candy my food hot against its cardboard sleeve glitzy pink neon lights smell of hot popcorn laughter from all over the midway Iowa state fair magic carnival barkers screaming for my attention fireworks will start in an hour reading of my palm her eyes are wizened I am intrigued, her predictions magical enjoying this day in an innocent way excitement extraordinaire alive at fifteen flirted at by sixteen memory that still makes me smile at sixty-eight