lolly counter

Workmen pulling black cable
deep from the pavement’s hole,
it came up like something surgical
hauled towards pincers, oversized.

Mechanically strong, the fellow bit it
into giant lengths with giant teeth,
like liquorice, and on the soft inside
it was full of rainbow sweets.

Of multicoloured, all-sort wires
and, sweaty-smooth on the outside,
that aniseed oily plastic lay piled
for sale on the lolly-counter street.