Dancing in the Candy Aisle at 6 a.m.

A boy, maybe 5, dancing
in the candy aisle of a megastore
at 6 a.m., a month before Halloween

is overjoyed by the harvest
on every shelf, his caramel skin
aglow, his hair a perfect ‘fro,

his black t-shirt and black jeans
the right outfit for his performance.
And although he has the moves

he’s more a cub scout than
another Michael Jackson.
He has the aisle to himself

except for me and my cart
at one end and a clerk
with a box at the other

both of us stunned to see
a boy with no arms dancing
in the candy aisle till mother

comes and scoops him up,
plops him in her empty cart.
Both laugh and disappear.

Donal Mahoney, nominated for Best of the Net and Pushcart prizes, Donal Mahoney has had poetry and fiction published in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Some of his work can be found by clicking here…