Follow My Directions Carefully

 

 

Sweeten it with lime

And flavor it with sugar,

A little essence is essential

Or don’t you dare bother.

 

Heat it up till it’s cool

Just a half-cup full,

Ensure the bottom half’s on top

Just as any idiot would.

 

If you put in a straw

I can drink from the bottom,

The ingredients you use

Must not be ill-gotten.

Add some ice to the mix,

I want it to be hot

To the extent that one can see

Steam coming out of the pot.

 

Neither leave it on the stove

Nor put in in the fridge,

But climb on to the roof

And leave it on the ridge.

 

In the day it will be cold

At nights it will be hot,

Follow my directions carefully

Tell me what you’ve got.

Oh, before I forget

Just one more thing to add,

Water is a definite necessity

Or else you are mad.

 

After twenty-four hours

Remove it from the ridge,

But remember what I told you,

Don’t put it in the fridge.

 

Did you put in vinegar?

If you have, go back to the top,

Right there is the best place

To extract the whole lot.

 

It’s time to revisit the essence:

Please use vanilla extract,

It’ll make this task much easier-

I know this to be a fact.

 

However, if you didn’t,

Add in a little at this time,

Lime juice cannot spoil vinegar

So, put it in to rhyme.

 

Let me recount the poem

To see where I am right now,

My definitely assured conclusion is:

I’ve lost my way somehow.

 

So, let me retrace my steps

To see where I started out,

That I am at the beginning now

I definitely have no doubt.

 

Sweeten it with lime

And flavour it with sugar,

Yes, I am at the beginning again

And I can go back no further.

 

A little essence is essential…

I won’t bore you with the details,

If you can follow this poem

Both you and I have failed.

For when I started out

I knew not where I was going

And now I have arrived there

I have no way of knowing.

 

Thanks for your time, however,

I am glad you spent it with me,

The fact you had nothing better to do

Is a clear sign of insanity.

 

I can recommend someone

That can improve your state,

But all that someone will improve

Is your insanity at a faster rate.

 

Sweeten it with lime

I know you have lost your mind,

Flavour it with sugar

Make lemonade next time!

 

Stewart Russell © September 17, 2022