On a Cereal Box for Children

An arc of bright marshmallows
set stark on a sparkling cover.
Extending from the open palms of the little man
dressed in green are the chunks of sugar:
heart, star, horseshoe, shamrock,
blue moon, golden pot, rainbow, balloon.
Eight marshmallows, expanding,
and the leprechaun’s upward-gazing eyes
lock upon the words “Giant Size.”

And indeed the size is giant.
The magnitude of this box,
the weight of this dry, cold cereal,
the expanding force of the sparkles,
have not yet been calculated,
no, cannot be calculated,
by the instruments contrived
by the minds of men.

This is no mere breakfast.

And the charm-eating children
who aren’t so lucky-
what are they getting?
More than a meal,
and more than 110 calories
per ¾ cup serving.