Pretzel Rods

The corner candy store displayed,

On the counter next to where you paid,

Tall pretzel rods, two cents a pop,

In a glass container with a top.

 

They were often added to a bill –

Toss some pretzels in, please, if you will –

Or were ordered by a kid who’d planned,

His pennies clutched in a sweaty hand.

 

But the best was sitting on a stool,

On a Saturday or after school,

With your mom who’d let you have a treat –

A vanilla malted, cold and sweet.

 

It was served within the silver cup

Which the owner’d used to mix it up

With a pretzel rod included, free;

There was no place I would rather be.

 

The sweet of sugar, tang of salt

Combined with the vanilla malt

Made taste buds squeal with pure delight

With each and every sip and bite.