kool-aid

they told us not to drink the kool-aid but forgot to supply us with a proper substitute.

drink water they say -

as if the electrolyte minerals

or overly purified pH

could wash it all away.

drink water they said

and then maybe, just maybe

you wouldn't be so thirsty

and always in need of a drink.

drink more water

it looks good on you,

70% of you

and that's more than 50

but the glass still feels half empty -

drink more water

it's good for you,

and see there are a lot of things

that are good for you

but that doesn't mean you

have a taste for them.

sometimes you want the high fructose corn syrup combined with the colorful carbonation,

you want the genetically modified organism quick fast and in a hurry

drenched in all the unhealthy you can serve.

you know how it goes,

with the preservatives reserved for that

special place,

that spot you don't want

anyone to touch & it feels so out of touch

so why reach for it when you can reach for the kool-aid instead as if it's what you really want.

the water diluted with the liquid diabetes

the sugar

the carbs

the ice cream

the 80 proof, far from the truth

tainting the youth and calling it freedom in a glass bottle will do -

that's the kind of water you want.

so we continue to drink the kool-aid

because remaining parched is simply

not an option.

we drink and we drink

not because we want to

but simply because

we are still thirsty

and looking for a place to quench it

even for a little while,

at least it's for a little while -

even if it leaves a

bitter taste in the back of your mouth, like the one you can't seem to get out no matter how many times you brush-

front

back

side

rinse

brush

gums

tongue

floss

repeat,

i can still taste the residue from that -

sweet sugary drink

they call kool-aid.

drink more water they said -

too bad the water is

too bland.

too transparent.

too simple.

too tasteless.

too healthy.

too dull.

too boring.

too right.

too still.

too easy.

too good to be true.