I Wish I'D Had Candy Floss Poem by David J Lindsay

At the side of the van with a window
In the park
I've a decision to make

Should
I get an ice rocket
or a cider lolly,
a fab, a funny feet,
or a 99 with a flake?

Candy floss!
The thought flashes and dies
Before I can grasp it

Then my eyes fix on my younger brothers ice cream in it's cone
Mum made his choice for him
as he sits in his pram

My cousins have all made up their minds
and so have our mums, so
BAM!
Suddenly they're waiting for me

Now I have to choose,
Whatever I pick will be eaten in no time
Whatever I pick, I'll lose

I can never make it last,
Not under these blue skies
I want it to, but a voice says
'Eat it quick or it'll melt'
Or 'don't you wanna play on the slide? '

Candy floss!

Again the thought was there
But then, how long has that sticky bright pink stuff been there
in it's sad little bag?

Could be 5 minutes, or 5 days.

Do I care? - Er, no!

I LOVE the feeling of eating a cloud,
Even though it's probably stickier, gooier, and pinker than owt that's up there

Maybe real clouds would also
make our fingers glue together
and taste that sweet when you finally get the last mouthful
off your thumb

Dunno.

But I suppose the bag is there to stop the wasps
And the bees
And we've not seen any of them today
So let's be grateful

Safer with an ice cream or a lolly.

Aw, but candy floss!

Then I remember an adult's whisper. Something about 'E' numbers.

And somehow,
I don't really know how,
I've a chosen a 99 - a fine choice I'm told.
No doubt with eyes rolling

Dunno.

'Cos I was right - it's gone too soon
Mostly eaten, but a dribble down my elbow

How did it get down there?

But then me brother has tell-tale white all round his face
and mum is going towards him armed with a tissue and spit

And at least I still have my flake!

But candy floss would've been better.

I tell myself, NEXT time, I'll get candy floss.

But I know, I won't really.