Nobody could tell

Nobody ever knew because
the kid couldn't tell
Couldn't dare to mention
All he wanted from life was his teeth
Not the fame
Not the notoriety
As the kid kid candy freak
Back in the precandy freak glory days
Shiny white placards
That beamed responsibility across a room
Or screamed
I am ready
Confident
Optimistic
And taken care of
Like tiny white cue cards
That people would look into your mouth
And read good things about the nice
Brown skin boy
Where he's been
Who he will be
And why nobody has taken care of him
Why he never took care of them
Or why he never wanted them
In the first place