Memorial At the Carousel

My brother works at a carousel In a tiny mountain town And riders come from near and far Because of its renown. It mostly brings out smiles And occasionally tears But when the music starts, all trace Of sadness disappears. Except at a memorial When someone local’s died. The ride begins in silence, Not a single soul astride. The mourners stand outside the gate And watch without a sound As the animals go up and down And ‘round and ‘round and ‘round.