Joan McBride

   You are my peanut
   I am your brittle
       	-Pepe La Pew
 
we are a confection
brought to a slow boil
 
sugared and stirred
buttered and turned out
 
on a bed of wax paper
to cool and harden
 
all toffeed-up and
salted peanuts to a tasty lick—
 
if any try to break us
we will shatter
 
our pieces pierce
like glass—
 
we are for languishing
in the mouth
 
before you bite down