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Skimming Aluminum Lake

Nature is a fugitive here now
the air thick with metallic salt
silver waves lap a barren shore

Governments bend and lie
as we all do – yet a silent army 
of synthetic colors and dyes 
march on attacking the palette

O alumina! O ammonia!
Fill me with your artifice!

Yellow cakes
Red sauces
Purple candies
Orange creams
Blue cereals
Green soups

Let your conspiracy of agents 
wash over me - violate my organs 
destroy my mind and memory but
never leave me without the taste of you

Firming agents
Coloring agents
Anticaking agents
Neutralizing agents
Dough strengtheners
Emulsifying agents
Stabilizers and thickeners
Leavening agents
Curing agents

I have never needed you
and have never wanted you
even though they claim you
are generally recognized as safe

Yellow cheeses
Red icings
Purple lozenges
Orange liquids
Blue creams
Green gums

The experiments began long ago
handshakes with a toothless FDA
a rainbow of profits for sellers all

But the pain you leave behind
is a story that has never been told
the proof is a truth held hostage

You have never really been scolded
never have felt any sense of shame
but we know all of your names now

Copyright © | Year Posted 2016




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Date: 2/21/2017 11:15:00 AM
Excellent write! I would love to see this pasted on packaging :)
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Levy Avatar
Barry Levy
Date: 2/21/2017 2:25:00 PM
Thank you very much for your kind words. If left up to the corporations, we would have to guess at the ingredients. There is debate going on now about removing expiration date reqyirements from fresh and canned foods. The public is always the last to know.
Date: 7/17/2016 2:53:00 PM
Epic and outstanding message...Skat
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Levy Avatar
Barry Levy
Date: 7/20/2016 11:51:00 AM
Thanks very much for the kind words.

Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry