Staying Alive

Licking the batter bowl

mother didn’t know that it could kill us

sweet sugar egg flour

on our tongues

now verboten

she didn’t know those little pet turtles

(the ones in their plastic island paradise)

with salmonella all over their tiny prickly feet

could kill us

now verboten

mother didn’t know that our cotton pajamas

could kill us

when we fell into the fire

now verboten

———————-

Dutch word verboten has such a nice sound to it. Verboten is German, verbose Afrikaans

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Greek Fire

   
Chemists mystified 

     even to this day

Byzantine recipe conquered at sea

when propelled

     forceful streams of fire

Greek fire could not be quenched by water

     rather it ignited further

when propelled  

     forceful streams of fire

       Fueled by force

         air and water
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dVerse prompt with dynamic verbs – Greek fire was a form of weaponry 700AD – image public domain