Charms 
 
 
Dig deep in those pockets 
scrounge up the change 
here's your 20¢ sour apple I proclaim. 
 
 
	I suck and I lick the flavor I picked 
leaves a taste in the side of my mouth. 
It's tart and I lick until the hurt is no more, 
and the bubble gum shows through 
the green tartness and I bite !!! 
I bite down hard and crack ! 
The chips of silicone dextrose, citric acid 
and this stuff called glycerine slide down 
my throat and I begin to chew the pink bubble gum 
that after 5 chews disintegrates and 
the sugar left behind in my taste buds 
causes me to yearn 
and dig, dig deep !!! 
Once again into my pockets. 
 
David Paine