Unfiltered

I'm drinking again

cold water...

on the rocks

it comes up

from the tap

and I am afraid

every time

I raise that cup

O well water !

old timers say

Ahh...

all in nostalgic sigh

and stop every drip

though they add they

never paid for theirs

and collected rain

in barrels and pails

I feel guilty a bit

for my convenience

I check the municipal

color and bouquet

it's something

like pool tile at the Y

and its micron level is

just on the other side

of the legal nod...

This is my dependency

your codependency

our despondency

in a glass half full

we share it liberally

with our children

soon as we can

put it to their lips

and when they're

old enough to stand

with step stool and

turn that spigot

with chubby hand

they help themselves

to it whenever they can

because water is life

and life is good

and a little water

never kills you

it's just the lead

down the pipes...

messes with your blood

eats away at the brain

like a drug

EPA recommends

a filter and maybe

we'll afford one

one day...

or maybe the

elderly lady

upstairs will have

a word in and

the landlord will

have mercy

on her... and on us

but for now,

we drink and pray

and God bless it all,

ain't like we need AA

08.01.2024

"Dependency has been a thief at night." challenge @AJAY9979