Ta-bing! There it is-
the old packet from my past.
I know I must face this moment of truth;
the journey of denial ends at last.

I kicked the habit long ago,
and to my decision I've been dutiful;
but there it is, on the floor.
Ridiculously tempting, and sooo beautiful.

Plain old, sugarless Kool-Aid mix-
it was more than just a fad;
it was sourer than the sourest sour
that anyone ever had.

The crazy need for it came so easy,
just one taste was enough to cause it;
my sister and I stole some spoons one day
and ate it in the closet.

But it wasn't just an addiction;
it wasn't substance abuse;
it became a full blown downward spiral
of Kool-Aid powder misuse.

Blastin' Berry Cherry was the best,
the blend of flavors was hard to beat;
what a thing to stuff in your mouth
when there's nothing around to eat!

My sister and I grew to love it more
than a cockatoo loves a trinket;
we sprinkled it, dipped it, and licked it up-
we did everything but drink it.

We stole it from the cupboard,
and snuck it into the shopping cart;
the logo always caught our eye
in every grocery mart.

Now the packet is in my hand;
the poor thing, I can't just chuck 'er;
I need one more sprinkle on the tongue,
just one more delicious pucker.

I'm ignoring all the danger signs;
I'm going back to my same old ways;
better than candy, better than drugs-
I'll be spitting berries for days.

The open packet's headed for my mouth;
my taste buds will be swollen and sore again;
I run to the kitchen in a last minute escape,
grab a cup of water and pour it in.

I tip the tub of sugar desperately-
lots and lots of sugar is the key;
I stir and stir like a maniac,
like a mad hatter cackling in his tea.

At last I stop and raise it to my lips,
and they curl with a smile heaven made;
it tasted awful, but I finally won;
I finally drank the blasted liquid Kool-Aid.