At the Corner of Fantasy and Main: Disneyland, Midlife and Churros by Matt Mason

The cover of At the Corner of Fantasy and Main, a book of poetry about Disneyland by Matt Mason.

I’m 46 years old and have spent a lot of time lately daydreaming about visiting Disneyland again. It may not be a mid-life crisis, but the draw of Walt’s original park just keeps getting stronger. Part of this allure is nostalgia for past visits, but there’s something more here. This feeling is everywhere in Matt Mason’s poetry book At the Corner of Fantasy and Main: Disneyland, Midlife and Churros. This excellent collection speaks to the Disney gene and how it impacts more than just our vacations.

Mason is the Nebraska State Poet and not the typical author of a Disneyland book. His different approach to the park leads to sharp writing that grabs you emotionally more than with info. What stands out immediately is his fandom; poems mention William Blake and John Keats but also cover the weirdness of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride and the wonders of Pirates of the Caribbean. I love the way that Mason notes the mania of planning a Disney trip while also enjoying the process.

In “The Web’s Real Peril”, Mason aptly describes the challenges of planning a Disneyland trip. It’s not affordable and you become obsessed with small pricing updates. His observation on hiding all the research from your wife definitely speaks to my experiences. It’s this understanding of the avid fan’s mindset that makes this book really click. I don’t completely share the excitement for the title snack in “Song of Your Churro”, but the idea connects in so many ways.

Love, Joy, and Loss at Disneyland

There’s also a sense of what’s been lost in At the Corner of Fantasy and Main reflected through memories of Disneyland. Mason reflects on losing his parents and sifting through boxes of photos in his basement. These trips were markers for different stages of life that seem even more important today. In “Disneyland, 1979”, Mason describes a single picture with him and his dad standing in front of the Monorail track. He doesn’t remember that moment, yet it provides a glimpse of that year in a happy moment.

I also connected with Mason viewing Disneyland now as a parent with young kids. “At Disneyland, She’s Excited” describes his daughter’s joy for the slide at the hotel pool more than anything with a line. It reminds us that the headliner attractions are just a small part of the magic. “What You Love” sums up the moments that stand with you from these vacations. His wife with a “face splashed with fireworks” and your oldest’s “first ride on the Matterhorn” are all that matters on that day.

The title poem of At the Corner of Fantasy and Main provides a perfect sense of place with the specific feelings at that spot. Descriptions like the “border line between where dust needs sweeping up and where it makes you fly” encapsulate the area. Mason repeats this poem type several times in different spots at Disneyland, and each sets the right tone. The mix of all the details with strong core emotions come together so well. Mason connects with why we love Disneyland in this warm and surprising book.

Learn more about At the Corner of Fantasy and Main and purchase a copy at the official Old Mill Press site or through Amazon.