by Debra Rymer

raw cane peels green from naked milky succor

white powdered sugar waits the egg and whip

granulated could be salt if only it were dashing

King corn syrup dominates Western ingredient lists

light Karo waits on poverty to reach the high cupboard

honey thickens amber the regurgitate of bees

brown sugar blooms butter moons on parchment sheets

coconut sugar speed dials an emergency vacation

muscovado flirts a one-way ticket to Barbados 

maple syrup sensibly maintains a Canadian passport

dark Karo knows she’s good enough for your crap pancakes

molasses beets the soil for breadcrumb trails

we hoped we’d never need to bring us home

where needlepoint reminds and you repeat

stay sweet as if all sugars were the same