Carnival Love

You found my heart

in your hand

moved it about like a
tiny plastic pinball machine

easily guiding the silver
bead down the thin
lime-green tunnels until 

all the red and yellow lights
smashed about.

You win! It said.

I said, you win. 

You looked, the prize 

now thrust shy

upon the counter

suddenly here and
pinned all over with
bright felt hearts -
shameless in its softness

and with your 

faux rifle you 

changed the game and 

shot it clean off the perch.