Smoke-

not from machines nor food stands

rather, those of

cigarettes, cigars, blunts

it’s not what I remember it to be

The Fair,

pop-up rides and stands of games

they littered the open field-

kids would come running

like moths to a flame

just to get the old, cheap SpongeBob plushie

that’s been there for years

because no one could win it

we used to have fun

eating pierogies and funnel cakes

Now-

all that’s fun about it

is leaving

it’s not what I remember it to be

The Fair,

the ghetto-

uneducated in the existence of belts and pants their size,

their pants sag so low

it’s repulsive-

in another 5 years, they’ll be at their ankles-

it’s the “trend” I guess

Unbelievably,

this used to be a place for kids

Now-

it’s a reason for adults to get drunk on alcohol

or high on drugs

just to forget about their boring, miserable lives

it’s unbearable-

the booze, the drugs, the vulgarity-

it’s not what I remember it to be

My Childhood,

either it was different then,

or I know better now-

but it certainly isn’t the same-

the same as my memories,

the same as my childhood.