My mother gave me ginger ale to drink
when I was sick at home with bellyache.
She also served saltines; my mom would think
and say I needed sustenance to make
the illness go. “You have to keep your strength
up,” she’d proclaim. “Your body needs to eat.”
When I refused, she’d go to any length
to get me to ingest some salt or sweet.

She never understood the energy
digestion burns. She didn’t comprehend
the body’s bigger need. Recovery
is quickest when my system’s armies spend
their powers in repelling foreign foes,
instead of processing digestive flows.