Touch me not,
you Pepsi challenge of a —
well, we all have challenges, don’t we,
every one of us fighting those tiny Twilight Zone aliens
from Earth, each of us alone in our dress in our farmhouse
on an unnamed planet of our own?
Pepsi is the national drink of those aliens — I mean,
does anyone really prefer it? Many of us said we did.
Many of of were shocked, a veil lifted from our eyes, a label
(black on white, Cola A or Cola B) sliding off the can
to reveal our secret choice. I know I took the Pepsi challenge
and wanted it to go a certain way, and it either did or didn’t,
but I forget what I wanted and what I chose, and how I felt
when the truth was revealed. I know I have certain challenges now.
I forget what I want and what I choose and how I feel, and the truth.
Marilyn Rauch Cavicchia 
that’s a great ending …. I love how you double played the word play – makes for another amazing layer to the meanings in this piece – and as always, I love your voice and tone, and how you insert things, images that seem so unrelated, but yet, they are finely interwoven and just zing right along, seamlessly.
and I remember the challenge – and I even challenged them back – told them I could tell which was Pepsi or Coke – and stated what my preference was – ahead of time – Coke – and they laughed, said “oh no – you’ll see” – well, I did exactly as I said I would and could – wiped the grins off their faces right quick as others waiting started to snicker. They weren’t too happy, but damn, if the two colas were so different in taste …. LOL …. so long ago was that ….
Oh, thank you so much! That means a lot. And I love that you challenged them back. That’s funny!