From her seat in the gondola a woman
who might be me watches roller
bladers with supple bones, toddlers with careless
balloons far, far down on the pier. She opens
the doors—mini saloon doors of purple—or
she crawls over acrylic barriers. Either way
she hesitates a moment. The lurch
of the wheel as it stops at the top finishes
the job. No scream. Even the plane floating
a campaign trail of plastic behind it, silent. Soundless
waves, too, that far up. She floats as if posing
for her close-up, delicate fingers, poised toes,
her red sunhat a Frisbee against
sky of pulled taffy clouds on blue.
Sea like scallops of Alençon lace below,
sand stretched away toward the Palisades,
the smell of sugary churros her last sensation.