An Ode

It all started one day

in a small playground on the Lower East Side

outside of a cluster of projects

the typical metal structure,

red, yellow, blue construction of fun

Who knows why but I must have been 4 

and I was alone

roaming across the black matted ground 

playing by myself on the monkey bars

slipping down the short, cold metal slide

probably in some seriously 90s

 floral print leggings-cute babydoll dress combo with too short bangs and a bob

I swear I was Matilda reincarnated

minus the magical powers and all 

but who needs magical powers 

when you're a kid in the 90s

anyhow, I was roaming around that

sad little playground when!

     Alas!

     my young eye caught sight of a

    lone red gummy bear

   I swear it glistened on the black rubber ground

  and it whispered "eat me"

  I knew what was good for me, and that I should'nt 

  eat off the floor

 for various reasons (crack, HPV)

 but I had too, it was calling my name

I peered up to the sixth floor gated window

no sight of my mom

I walked over

my Payless sneakers lighting up

preparing me for the magical taste

and then I just picked it up and ate it

and that day has been by far one of the biggest impacts on my life

Do I still eat candy off the floor you ask?

anytime, anyplace

but I've moved on to Swedish Fish

I swear I can smell them from across a room

and anyways, Gummi Bears have gelatin

and I'm a vegetarian

those days are over, but the thought of floral print leggings still entices me.