happy valley sugar

the legal notice advertised

the harrisburg headlines shouted

extra! extra! read all about

how lemonade stands got all zoned out

where lemonade stands are not allowed

why lemonade stands are not permitted

within the holy happy little valley city limits

that sits beneath the shadow of mt. nittany

city fathers posted their secret theses

long before their city's press releases

they count their ninety-five excuses

each one a child of their abuses

the holy city man in his holy little city truck

secured the happy valley neighborhoods

official yellow light on top

pulsing yellow public trust

he read the outlaw holy ordinance

to collar children that he caught

they gathered all around

his indulgent little city truck

pulsing yellow light on the top

pulsing yellow public trust

while mothers watered hanging baskets

on holy happy valley friendly porches

the holy city man made his rounds

curfewing every unbaptized child in holy town

to inquisition in tortured shower rooms

confessing lemonade stands underground

the holy city man cast his spell

while the silence fell all around

he took official holy papers out and told

how straight the ordinance would unfold

how sure he was of his own household

no absalom to dethrone the lion of gold

some children leaned on the hood

spilled their cups of sour juice

took their rite from the whitewashed hand

went home to their lazy living rooms

to silent happy holy valley manikins

who could not feel the awkward touch

of wormy flesh on plastic skin

some who climbed in the pickup bed

thought the holy city man would bail them out

after all the yellow light

still pulsed yellow on the happy roof

washed and waxed from their chambers

they learned too late not to trust

what the holy city light was all about

learned too late the scent of the beast

or recognize the happy family smiling dangers

the holy father hid behind his sidelined eyes

playing make believe to cover holy lies

still some sat on the truck's tail gate

waiting for their turn to drink

the swill of the leftover lemonade

and finding the lemon juice

smelled a bit like linden fruit

the holy city man gave them sugar

he said with his permission

(because he was from the holy city

that bathed in the sun off mt. nittany)

he could lift

the lemonade stand prohibition

and piper each child absolution

just follow him to nittany mountain

but just in case the taste was too bitter

for their unbaptized mouths to swallow

there would always be the happy valley holy father

to spoon a taste of his happy valley holy sugar