Mary Had a Ferris Wheel

Mary Had a Ferris Wheel

written by: Nate Stonecypher

Mary had a Ferris Wheel,
its struts as black as coal.
And everywhere that Mary went,
the Wheel was sure to roll.

But Ferris Wheels as household pets
have certain subtle snags.
Its habit of escaping leash
raised numerous red flags.

The trouble just got worse and worse,
her Wheel out of control—
spinning down the motorway,
blasting rock and roll.

Mary said, “I dearly wish
that I could tame you, Wheel!”
But Wheelie smirked: “Your silly rules
will never dent MY steel!”

Down the River Thames it charged—
freedom its only goal.
Mary said, “I dearly wish
my Wheel knew self control!”

But wishes don’t solutions make.
The Wheel struck Tower Bridge.
(Ten thousand stunning pictures went
on everybody’s fridge.)

Mary mourned her wayward Wheel.
She kept a single pole.
That rod her only memory…
her pet—out of control.

Heed this cautionary tale;
don’t let your Ferris Wheel
run amuck like Mary’s did.
The consequences?… Real.

Please leave this field empty

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Nate Stonecypher

Nate Stonecypher is a retired university professor and local-government bureaucrat who has lived in many places over a long lifetime. He now calls Wyoming USA home, and shares it with one spouse and several cats—the exact number varies but is never less than two. When Nate was seven years old, his Uncle Bill—a born storyteller—told him that he (Nate) was a born storyteller. At age eight, he was regularly put in detention for being a class clown, making others laugh, and general buffoonish storytell-ery. At age nine, Nate’s mum told him he’d already spoken as many words as an ordinary person spoke in a lifetime. So he started writing them down instead. Now he’s in his 70s, still writing. True lies, every word. (Albert Camus). When the day comes, Nate’s tombstone will read: "Continued on the other side."

Latest posts by Nate Stonecypher (see all)

• Mary Had a Ferris Wheel - February 25, 2026
• Cats of the Twilight - September 2, 2025