"THE TOAST"
Painting and Poem by Ejay Khan

let's toast America's war on drugs
with Budweiser beer
in big frosty mugs
gin, vodka, rum, scotch
kahlua, vermouth
or sparkling champagne in fine crystal flutes
let's toast Smirnoff, Dewars, Jim Beam, Absolute
those legal drug lords
who don't give a hoot
that they're killing the masses
one by one
without ever having to fire a gun
while lining deep pockets with more currency
than most of us
over ten lifetimes will see
and please don't forget
with that butt in your hand
to toast Reynolds and Morris
great names in the land
who've killed more than their fair share
of friends your's and mine
all while telling the youth
that Camels are fine
raise up your glass a Marlboro mile
and toast Winston, Basics and Kents with a smile
on your drawn, wrinkled, tar-stained face
birth defects, cancer
emphysema, heart disease
just a few of the rewards
you can win with ease
by patronizing
murderous liars and thieves
who love plaguing our people
with sickness, disease
in the name of profit
oh we must not forget the new kids on the block
Ambien
Paxil
and little Zoloft
just ask your doc if they're right for you
their side effects really are so very few
drymouth, diarrhea, abdominal pain
dizziness, bleeding, blurred vision and gas
can also be cured
by doc if you ask
its ironic to see that this war on drugs
has nothing to do with drug pushers and thugs
Congress ensures that they remain free
to addict the lambs
sea to shining sea
it all has to do
with that wee bit of wealth
Uncle Sam can't control with might or with stealth
smoke the fine sensi weed
which won't mess up your health
and gives comfort to ailing mankind
Sammy calls that God-given herb a drug
so to jail you and slap on a fine
the absurdity here is so plain to see
that I can't understand why people like we
don't stand up united once and for all
and toast to the karma
of Big Brother's fall
Cheers!