Today I will go into the woods
and gather sweet chestnuts
just as I did when I was a boy
on my way home from school

At home I’ll place the chestnuts
in boiling water
and when they’re done
I’ll peel off the tough shells
and allow the fruit to cool

meanwhile I’ll gently warm
some dark chocolate to which
I’ll add little cream : inserting
a toothpick into each chestnut
I’ll dip them in the chocolate
and once fully coated I’ll place them
on a baking sheet to cool

When later I eat them I know that
the taste will be of childhood

John Lyons