It was in this year
The scales of innocence were
slowly removed from my eyes
And I began to see and experience the wonders
Frustrations
Cruelty
Humanity
And reality of my world
It was in this year
I discovered that words written and spoken
Could be steamed
Fried
And prepared to order
I had always digested them
After being served thoroughly minced and diced
Sprinkled with a little sugar
Washed down with a cold drink
It was in this year
I began to prepare and serve words for others to digest
It was interesting to note that words taste differently to each tongue
Onion flavored
Bitter
Salty
Too sweet
Needing more flour
Or flower
It was in this year
That she kissed me for the first time
And I didn’t see firecrackers and shooting stars
But new words to taste
To savor
…so I asked for seconds