Mars Bars, M&M’s, Snickers,
licorice, lollipops, Tootsie Roll Pops.
A sugar high for the kids,
costumes abandoned, stored away.
But the children lose interest,
the plastic pumpkin lurks,
leering at you, mocking your resolve.
You have vowed to leave it, Bar None,
but it stands, haunting. And a day, two,
maybe even three you taste a bite
then soon you stow the bucket
so the child won’t miss sweet treats.
And you feel so little, so like a thief,
but the theft is not from the child
but from you, for the lascivious container
has stolen your peace, your serenity,
your abstinence and you know
if you’d just held true to the steps,
you could actually have thrown the sweets away
and harmed nobody…even yourself.