surprise, baby!
daddy brought you
a plethora of pills
a candy-store of homeopathics
a comfortable array of fixer-uppers.

go down the line
taste every flavor
melt them under your tongue
swallow them
drink them
drop them
watch daddy
watch you
for signs of
improve-
ment

he sees you slip away
into a drugged state
a smile slides onto baby's face
like melting butter
daddy is happy
because he thinks
baby
is