4 thoughts on “Chernobyl: Fairground at Pripyat

  1. Pingback: What is time? | PZF Photography

  2. The never-used amusement park struck a chord with me; I wrote the following poem about it:

    What is time?

    Soon, they said. Soon.

    We were all assembled, parts carefully honed
    miles away
    travelling on the backs of
    other machines
    brought by the people
    built by the people
    to bring joy to the people,
    soon, they said, soon
    we will have the May Day celebrations.

    The ferris wheel and carousels
    lovingly built
    tested, fed with electricity
    spun empty,
    they work just fine
    working the way the people wanted
    working the way the people would enjoy
    the people would have fun
    we would bring them fun,
    soon, they said soon.

    The bumper cars
    were driven in circles
    oiled and lubed
    attached to their ceiling;
    the cupcake carousel
    has seats added to the cupcakes
    yellow to match the ferris wheel
    the bumper cars
    the swings
    they would swing on the swings,
    bump the cars,
    soon, they said soon.

    People walked by
    watching the workers who were building us
    looking forward to the fun,
    soon, they said, soon.

    Then the feeling.
    The odd vibrations
    shuddering every molecule of our metal parts
    the people did not see
    the people did not feel
    what was the feeling?
    Would it end soon?

    Then the people all went away
    but surely they will return
    we are waiting here
    through the summers and the winters
    while the trees die and regrow
    while the snow falls and melts
    while the wind blows and knocks things over
    while the dust gathers
    surely the people will come back soon.

    Eventually a few come and look
    but now we are rusty and need care
    will they oil us
    before they have fun?
    They are not playing with us
    they brought other kinds of toys
    they wore covering suits
    they must be getting ready for the fun
    soon, they said soon.

    Now a few people come
    a bus at a time
    they look around, take photos
    but they do not have fun.
    Others come to measure and plan
    to build something else
    maybe the new thing
    is the main attraction
    we are happy to be sideshows
    we want to have fun with the people
    swing them round and up and down.
    Soon.

    We hear them talk that the feeling
    will be entirely gone away
    in twenty five thousand years.
    Then they will come back?
    we will wait
    How long is that time?
    What is time?
    Twenty five thousand years.
    Is that soon?

    Liked by 2 people

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