Sweet to the Core

A sphere of sugar, hard as stone,

Bites back until the flavor’s known.

Crunch too soon and risk the crack,

Daring tongues that won’t hold back.

Every layer slowly yields,

Fruit and fire the center shields.

Glossy armor, painted bright,

Holds the sweetness out of sight.

In the mouth it will not break,

Just dissolve for patience’s sake.

Kids collect them, trade and dare,

Licking till the colors wear.

Mouths grow tired, jaws complain,

Never rush the candy’s reign.

Only time reveals the core,

Patient waiting wins the war.

Quiet work of spit and will,

Reduces mountain into thrill.

Slow the circle, smaller grows,

Till the final sweetness shows.

Underneath the final shell,

Victory is brief but well.

When the last hard bit is gone,

Xylitol dreams still linger on.

Young and old both know the game—

Zealous lovers of the name.