The train rattles to the top of the hill. Two American flags stand like sentries at the apex. The stage, the other side of the park, the Long Island shoreline across the Sound all lie in sight for one fleeting moment.
Then the train rushes down the first turn, accelerating. Next, it descends the first hill. Frankie and I throw our hands in the air and scream! Down, up, another turn, down two more.
Then up into the mouth of the dragon!
Through darkness, we turn. Then descend out of the tail and back into daylight.
More ups, downs, arounds. Until we finally come to a stop where we began.
Where our summer truly begins!
Summer afternoon
another ride on Playland’s
Dragon Coaster
Photo by Jeffrey Blum
first published in Image Curve, June 28, 2018
for dVerse Poets’ OpenLinkNights #223 (pubtended by Bjorn)
Frank J. Tassone 
Leave a comment