The Cookie That Shall Not Be Named

My childhood,

was filled with sugar.

Fun Dip, Pandulce, Ice Cream, Cookies

Without fail got me through many a hard day.

But there was always "that" cookie.

The Oatmeal Raisin

Why it was always included,

In storebought boxes of better cookies?

I thought I'd never know.

I hated raisins and why on God's great earth

Would you mix it with oatmeal and bake it into a cookie?!

I swore to never like them. And never give them a chance.

Nevertheless, the fateful day came

And I ate an oatmeal raisin cookie.

There I was, relaxing after a choir concert

About to enjoy some cookies and a movie with my choir class.

It was a just harmless accident. I had grabbed a cookie from the box

Unaware of the danger that lurked 

Underneath the gooey chocolate chips and snickerdoodles.

With one bite I unknowingly changed,

My view of the world, its peoples, 

But most importantly, of its cookies.

Conflict coursed through my body.

I had consumed

"The Cookie That Shall Not Be Named"

But...It was good.

Never before had I understood why the adults were the only ones

The only ones at parties partaking of the oatmeal-raisin.

Now I felt the looming threat

Of student loans,

Of getting a job,

Of paying for gas,

Of wanting to go somewhere and do something

But being way too broke to go.

After that day I can look at people differently.

I can look at others knowing that they are complex.

Maybe some things might not seem to work alone

But together, can result in newfound perfection.

Others may see a worthless, odd combination of flavors,

What I see is a medley of taste and texture and plain YUM.