the ocean used to go on for ages but when I grew older I saw the edge

is it fair to say

saltwater taffy

has never tasted as good

as the first time you tried

with sweaty fingers

stinky shoes

undone buns

knees bruised

copper rolled

off my tongue

I was bitter

the taste was sweeter

than I can imagine now

like honey and homesickness

suckers and stale bread

weathered and battered and fresh

they were jewels

pearly and swirly

sea air and blue skies

rainy days inside

a bite of cloud and cotton

gooey and scrumptious

nothing is ever quite the same

once you see the way

the stuff stuck

to your fingers is soft

like the way your hands were

and your tongue

has tasted his and your thighs

have felt his glue hands

his firm stance

nothing is ever quite so

smooth again