Artificial sweeteners, ubiquitous,

In much we eat and drink,

Effect on health, iniquitous,

Made me stop and think:

How do I play calorie game?

Queried web, answer found.

Stevia —unlikely name —

From natural leaf is ground.

Sweetens like aspartame,

No guilty calories, of course.

 For sweet tea, cereal same,

I found a low priced source.

Swansonvitamins.com on line,

Has vitamins and Stevia too,

A hundred paks for $3.59,

I said, “Okay, this’ll do”.

Toxic sweeteners we’ll unseat

If word’s spread all over town.

Stevia’s taste is oh, so sweet,

And helps you fit your gown.

© 2007 R. Leland Waldrip