Chuckles

They came lined up like chorus girls -
Just five, though, in a row,
A plastic cover letting them
Be visible below.

Protected, they stayed soft and fresh
Until the wrapper tore,
Most likely well before you even
Paid or left the store.

The colors, bright and cheery,
Topped with sugar, never bled –
A lemon yellow, orange, green,
A licorice black and red.

I mostly ate the red one first
But sometimes chose the black
And green, without a doubt, remained
The last one in the pack.

Though chewy Chuckles candies
In my childhood gained acclaim,
They never lived up to the joy
Expected by their name.