With a Mouth Full of Candy

He stands in the mirror
With a mouth full of candy
Like from Easter
And there is one from father
And several from his friends
Colors and shapes melting in his mouth
Which reminds him
Of summer afternoons at the pool
Grass stains in the shape of smiles
An itchy, salty back on return from the beach
When he got to sit in the front leather seat
Of the old Volvo next to Mom
And there was Maggie in the backseat
And a Maggie in the next passing car
With head and tongue out the window in dog’s dream

Colors mixing like sprinkles on ice cream
Like a room with kaleidoscopes as windows
Or a sidewalk painting under a funeral march
Candy from a movie from when he was younger
And leaving the theater shocked by the blinding brightness
Mom unlocks the doors and warm leather seats
The ride home is like popcorn in teeth and perfect forever

He doesn’t look at this in the mirror
But watches the sweating glass next to the sink
Sweating, imagining it going from completely full to half-empty
Deciding to give his sweet tooth a rest
Deciding to race the sun with a chocolate bar