Chronic

by Taylor Roth

 

Growing up I hated cough syrup with a passion  

I’d rather have a cold  

Than have the taste of cherry-flavored poison,  

going down my throat  

Rather have a fever  

Then take chalky chewable tablets  

leaving ashy residue in my mouth  

However, I didn’t understand how lucky I was  

Until I never got better  

It was only expected to last a few weeks  

A night or two in the hospital  

A month or two on these pills  

A session or two of acupuncture  

Therapy, in every sense of the world  

Yet, three years later and here I am  

Still searching for that right brand of cough syrup to cure me  

And I don’t care how bad it tastes anymore