a few hundred years ago, they sprinkled raisins across a shallow bowl of brandy in a game of fruit & fire. with a match, raisins become little wicks. quick! pop them in your mouth & gulp the flame. faster. faster, little wanton ones, the game is to swallow sweet light. be bold. snatch the most & you’ll surely find your one true love over the plum pudding or spinning into blind man’s bluff. such a treat for the children. imagine all these parents convinced their sons’ & daughters’ sleeves would never catch fire. they double dare us, set the bowl in the middle of the table for all to reach—

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Allison Burris writes whimsical poems exploring memory and magic from Oakland, CA. Her most recent publications are in Masque & Spectacle and Last Stanza Journal. You can find her at the library looking for a magic portal. If you find one first, let her know: https://linktr.ee/allisonburris.