It must be Easter time because
they have made their appearance.
Bagsful in the grocery store candy isle
and now into a fancy dish on our table.
I love ‘em. That attractive, tempting palette of color.
Some give away their flavors without a doubt.
Orange is orangy. Red is cherry. Green, sour apple.
Kids don’t like the Black Licorice. Just older folks.
What about the one that’s sadly pale?
A mystery flavor. Coconut or Cream Soda?

I asked Alexa “What are jelly beans made of?”
She immediately came back with
“The basic ingredients of jelly beans include
sugar, tapioca or corn syrup, and pectin or starch,
and a shellac of Confectioner’s glaze.”
Mmmm. Love the shellac.
Whatever the content, they are perennially
a chewy deliciousness that disappears
quite quickly from my Easter basket.

But not before the chocolate.