tumble out of my mouth
like gumballs
black licorice and grape flavored
like gumballs
because I said so
now lie in it
until you know the rules
but when they filled the machine
it's what they gave me
new and used gumballs of
rough-hewn brick and lumpy mortar
to build what should be
a shaky foundation
but the gumballs tumble
black licorice and grape flavored
staining my tongue
with bitter righteousness
because I said so
now lie in it
until you know the rules
and what should have been
a shaky foundation
stands strong
a hundred years after
the building burned down