Welcome to Cozy Poetry Corner by Debra A Winter (Richter)

“A Sweet Lesson Learned”

Have you ever tasted a sour sucker?

One that made your mouth water and pucker?

Or maybe a strip of candy beads or a sweet tart;

From a man selling candy at the corner mart?

~

All those candy jars lined up on a shelf,

Wishing you were a sneaky little elf.

Where the store worker went to the back room,

And you could sneak candy, not a broom?

~

What a sweet kids’ paradise I’m in.

And this mouth of mine wants a fizz.

From a squishy gun drop or waxy bottle

Can I set up my engine’s throttle?

~

Oh, the store worker’s coming back

He’s got a bag of something in his sack.

Ask me if I would like a gumball;

I said, “Yes!” He gave me all.

~

My mouth watered for candy and more;

They were cherry bombs, so hot I hit the floor.

Water, water, I cried;

My mouth was so hot I thought I could’ve died.

~

“Sir,” I said after my mouth cooled off;

Stuttering fast through the heat-filled cough.

You can keep your candy; I’m going home;

My mouth hurts and is full of this foam.

~

“See you,” young man. That’ll teach me not to be a sneak.

Bring money next time — then he’ll turn the other cheek.

I’ll also get a much better treat.

One that I’m sure will be a pleasure to eat.

~

I guess I learned a lesson well;

One I’ll even live to tell.

Don’t steal candy from the neighborhood mart.

As the store owner is clever and very smart…