Caramel

We found a treasure

my father and I

walking once

together

in the tail end

of my boyhood

we came upon

caramel popcorn

for sale

not the usual

sanitised

play-it-safe

spray on

hardened

caramel

but sticky

gooey

hot and dirty

caramel

poured over

fresh popcorn

then shaped

into an apple

of steaming

chewy

sweetness

none of my five-a-day

​

we looked

at each other

over the top

of our treasure

we each

took a bite

felt the warm

richness move

through us

around us

we did not blink

just chewed

and smiled

and for that

half minute

the universe

was ours

 

now, I watch leaves pool like water against the garage door and every single part of me wants just one more bite