Bad Sassafras

Perhaps the sassafras was bad;
the root beer reared its ugly head
and taste buds grimaced painful like
as salivary glands sassed man.

Oh sassafras thou bring forth gas;
this potable we come to know
declares with utmost urgency
a tongue that wants to run away.

Root beer has turned to turpentine;
there is no teacher for the class
as we alone with lesson lost
declare the root today a dud.

Of course the bad of sassafras
fans fast the passion of our mad.
We cannot always let it pass
the hidden path where sassafras

was always there for us to hew;
and so we did to brew root beer
but got instead a rancid dreck;
the search for sassafras goes on.


20 Lines
Writer’s Cramp Co-Winner
5-8-20