in heyday
making caramel apples
care-a-mel or car-mel
that waters the mouth
sticks to the teeth
deliciously wrapped
around a rotund apple
sour or sweet
my kids would unwrap
each kraft caramel
drop them into the pan
and wait for them to melt
we’d put the apples on a stick
and dip them into the gooeyness
place them on wax paper to set
of course we might just go
out to a festival and find
the fancy kind
but a kid must at least once
make their own
oh that first bite
the one that sinks the teeth
deep enough to go through the apple skin
and find the snowyness of pulp
that tangoes with
the caramel delight
in the heyday of autumn
with my kids
i could just taste
the way it was back then
10/19/2022
Fall Flavors Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Regina McIntosh
Theme: Making caramel apples
Boo, hiss, spare me the phony sentimentality
Like you really think anyone gives a damn,
And, while you’re at it I say, sarcastically,
Get your side-glancing, eye-rolling response
Nothing so disgusts me as false gooeyness
That syrupy froth that freezes on demand,
Accompanied by raw, unbridled saccharinity
Just one touch of your pure, unavoidable grace.
Written May 22, 2022
For “Sentimentality” Poetry Contest
Sponsored by Julia Ward
This is New York!
creamy cheesecake,
chinese takeout,
dirty dawgs,
flaming steak strips,
street vendors galore.
This is New York!
hot, piping,
scorching, gooeyness,
thick, tangy,
sweet smoothness.
This is New York!
high style,
lit miles,
street style,
free style,
all the while.
This is New York!
crispy, crunchy,
sizzling, bubbling,
tasty, saucy spread
velvety goodness on powdery bread.
Ideally assembled right
Sinfully scrumous
Molten mountain gooeyness
Recreational
Skewered fashioned drive
Do you want
Smore !