Leftover bear claws
by Adrian Ernesto Cepeda
     If time eats the doughnut, does love eat the hole? –Tom Robbins

A mouthful of Mocha crumbs fires
two day old Dunkin Donuts
from her cracked mug—
chewing me softly,
she spits the same old after-bites
towards my glazed silhouette.
Her appetite hungers for a taste
more filling than my jelly flavored
crush. Staring chocolate iced—
I feel her aiming powdered sugar bullets,
softly triggering more blame,
leaving me shattered
like chalk outlines—
finding a dozen reasons
sprinkling me into dust.

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: A mentor during my second project period at Antioch University in Los Angeles challenged me to not just write erotic love poems. So many times food inspire such delicious memories and in this case I remembered a time with a former flame when eating with her inspired this poem that literally left a sour aftertaste in my mouth.


Adrian Ernesto Cepeda
is an LA Poet who is currently enrolled in the MFA Graduate program at Antioch University in Los Angeles, where he lives with his wife and their cat Woody Gold. His poetry has been featured in 36 different publications and journals, including The Yellow Chair Review and Thick With Conviction.  One of his poems was named Cultured Vultures’ Top 3 Poems of the Week. You can connect with Adrian on his website:

AUTHOR’S PHOTO CAPTION: I took this photograph a few weeks ago, at my home, for my website while I was reading one of my favorite anthologies — Poems That Make Grown Men Cry.