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Piece of Candy by Juan Manuel Guevara

Piece of Candy
by Juan Manuel Guevara from SEIS, Roosevelt campus
Published in the 2007-2008 WITS Anthology I Once Was Young and Strong (Available for purchase)

I’m standing next to the candy section
In the grocery store, then I see
A piece of candy that attracts me,
It sits on top of all the others,
As if gloating with its fancy wrapper
From afar.
I reach into my pockets for any chance of change,
I’m out of luck, not a cent on me.
Now it’s too late to leave without her, I
Don’t want to, but I feel I must.
I grab and take her by my side.
Clerks and security guards alike look
At me with dislike, they look at me with anticipation,
As if waiting for something or someone.
The security guard walks towards me.
“That’s it, I’ve been caught,” I think,
“No wait it’s not over yet.”
He stops in front of me and says,
“Have a nice day.” Yes I’ve,
I mean we’ve, made it.
Me and my piece of candy
With a fancy wrapper,
But now I don’t want to eat it anymore.

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