when you were young, stashing
the chocolate cold
behind vegetables
was just right.
then you grew –
like a mushroom.
behind the eggs?
that worked –
till you discovered pancakes.
a warm cache
behind the snacks?
not a chance –
those were your favorite foods.
the basement was
too musky,
the garage
too melty.
finally
came the day
to accept the fact that
chocolate
was your kind of plum –
which is to say –
ripe for plunder,
without apology.