Temptation and Consequences

Oh dull fruit, just finished my snack

The cookies are in the center jar but I

Better go play in my room

But the future lingers on my tongue

Bounce my old ball back and forth on the walls

Round and rolling, dark and dirty

Like chocolate chips clogging my arteries and

Thoughts. No no no momma said no

Papa said no too. Shoot. Miss.

I chase the ball to the top of the stairs

I realize the light below is still burning bright

Oh no. I’m descending before I know what I’m doing

The kitchen swallows me traps me pulls me

Further in as I dig in my heels to the green tile

I have no power to stop the aroma from embracing me

Seducing me just a powerless kid

The golden discs jumped

Into my hands ripped off my lips and

Disappeared. Papa’s heavy footsteps thumped in my ears

And then the newspaper thunked on my head. He sent me

Outside to play even though it was yet dark