Hugging
the green glass counter
I am a wide-eyed kid
in a candy store
weighing candy options
with great seriousness


questions....questions.....questions
should I fill my white bag
with
licorice rope
goobers
or
gummy bears

Temptations abound
I could wander over to the soda fountain
order an ice cream creation
crowned with drifting towers of whipped cream
and
a glistening stemmed maraschino cherry


Giant twirl pops line
the glass shelves
striped in pinks and greens
how many licks will it take to
reach the middle
will you match me
lick-for-lick
until
we reach the crumbly candy center


You see
I rarely indulge in candy
but
how can I resist this array of magical treats
all around me
So, where do I go first?