pink lemonade is still so decadent,

               but before

it might have been manna, like

a Ninja Turtle popsicle which tastes of

soft cardboard, though at least its eyes are gumballs,

and you’ve held not just pennies

               but quarters

in your life.

yet you’ll never be quite as decadent again

as the soft cardboard of a palace waiting for the touch of

a full 80 piece art set (non-professional)

complete
                                                  with pastels,

                                                  a dented, stubble-metal box,

                                                  and pronged marker caps.

in your life,

you’ll remember the touch of the

pliant plastic of sparkly Cinderella slippers,

                                                  recall their texture,

                                                  never their shape nor

                                                  color.