Stealing Candy

Two candy bars in my son’s orange pumpkin,
And sorry I could not eat both (he would notice)
A sneaky poacher, I stood
And stared at one for far too long,
Its wrapper gleaming in the light.

Then I turned to the other, just as tempting,
Perhaps with the better claim—
Coconut and caramel calling my name;
Though the first was slightly larger,
And I wanted them about the same,

Both equally beckoning,
With so many treats around, one would not be missed.
“Oh, I’ll take the other another day!”
Yet knowing it might be gone
If I wait to seize it.

I shall be unbuttoning my pants with a sigh
Another Halloween ages and ages hence:
Two candy bars in my son’s orange pumpkin, and I—
I ate them both,
And that has made my son cry.