My poem, The Same Climb, describes a child’s experience riding the Giant Dipper. The child talks about the different emotions she feels throughout the thrill ride. Her emotions mirror a rollercoaster, going from nervous and anxious to happy and elated. The poem draws parallels between the child’s feelings to the attractions on the Boardwalk, such as the water gun game, Pirate Ship, arcade, and caricature. The poem also pays tribute to the beautiful California sun and beach. The child feels like other riders on the rollercoaster are no longer strangers, but rather, they’ve formed a bond as they enjoy the ride together. The child grabs her mom’s arm at one point. At the end of the poem, it is revealed that the child, now a mom herself in present day, is going on the Giant Dipper with her son. When she looks over at her son, he has the same sparkle in his eyes as hers when she was a child. They are experiencing the same climb on the Giant Dipper, the same one that she and her mom experienced. Her son is now going through the same emotions she felt when she rode the rollercoaster as a child. I wanted to portray the relationship between the daughter and mother, and future mother and son because the Giant Dipper has been enjoyed for generations by millions of visitors. Even after 100 years, it will take riders up the same climb and give them an unforgettable experience with joy and exhilaration.
Voted the World’s Best Seaside Park
