‘Twas a hot summer day under the hot summer sun
As I wandered about, my vision beginning to fade.
I was perspiring, and at the moment desiring
An ice-cold can of crisp lemonade.
I found not what I sought, but yet
What I did find, sitting at a desk on the pavement,
A queer, slick can, the bottle all tanned,
So I ceased my search under that purple tent.
“Small little can,” pleaded I,
“Pray tell what your name might be?”
“Ignorant man,” scoffed the can,
“I am Root Beer, as you can clearly see!”
“Hm, of you I have not heard,”
I replied, blaming the heat for such a surprise.
“Alas, is that so? Then I must tell you more,”
Answered the drink, its voice flitting high.
“Answer me this; of what do you consist?”
At the moment, I was thinking aloud.
“Nutmeg and sarsaparilla, wintergreen and vanilla,
And of my variety of roots and more I am proud”
“Fair enough, but even so,
Were you originally meant for pleasure?”
“No, I was originally a tonic created by an American colonist,
Whose ingredients, exempting sassafras, were strong and sure.”
“Sassafras? Doesn’t sassafras include
A certain substance called safrole that causes immense pain?”
“You are correct; consuming safrole results in cancer, so today
I am created with sassafras extract in which safrole is not contained.”
“Good, very good; that is completely fine.
But, are you brimming with fizz? Don’t lie!”
“Quite so, for, at my birth, I was
Mercilessly pumped with carbon dioxide.”
“Now one last question, and then I’ll stop;
Am I one of the naive few who hasn’t heard of you?”
“Yes, and I’m exceedingly shocked that you haven’t.
For many companies have been founded for me alone to be brewed!”
“Well, I rest my case; I’ll give you a sip.”
I threw my head back and chugged the liquid down.
“Say! You’re not half bad! What a nice, refreshing feel!
And your taste, oh, your taste does astound!”
“That’s actually just me, I confess,”
Exclaimed the sugary drink with a sigh,
“Every Root Beer has a different flavor
Because our contents get tampered with from time to time.”
Not heeding these words at all,
As I was fully satisfied and left the drink seller their pay,
I tossed the can, much to its protest, in the trash,
And continued along my merry way.
Morning's Early Dark 