If you don’t take risks

you are yellow

If you are angry and inflamed

you are at risk

Concentrated urine is yellow.

Don’t pee in your pants.

Yellow

afraid,

jaundiced

inflamed with fear

Yellow fever

we are all Yellow

Turmeric looks orange but becomes yellow when infused

into a soothing warm beverage

Once yellow inflamed and frightened

you could have Yellow Fever

Yellow fear

Jaundiced and inflamed

hatred and bile leaking inside

fuels the yellow fear leading to an:

Inflamed brain.

Inflamed heart.

Inflamed lungs.

Inflamed hemorrhoids.

Maple Syrup Urine has nothing to do with any of this and is a separate disease, although maple syrup is an important part of the recipe below.

The Yellow antidote.

A recipe for a soothing turmeric latte, high in curcumin, with an abundance of anti-inflammatory properties.

It’s very yellow.

Now listen carefully:

A half teaspoon of chopped fresh turmeric.

A quarter teaspoon of chopped fresh ginger.

twelve ounces of unsweetened almond milk.

a half teaspoon of ground cinnamon.

a few grinds of black pepper.

a teaspoon of vanilla extract

a teaspoon of fresh maple syrup

Please mix it all in a blender—except for the maple syrup. Save that for the next step.

Then pour into a saucepan and stir over low heat.

When it’s warm, add in the syrup and continue to stir.

When it is very warm but not boiling, dump the hot mess back in the blender to foam it up.

Pour it into a mug and add a lot more cinnamon on top.

Serve, and feel the fear and inflammation drain from the vessel of your body with every sip.

Serve and plan a visit to the Panama Canal where many victims succumbed to Yellow Fever.

Serve and stop being inflamed and afraid.

Start traveling again.

Put on a Panama hat.

Or wear a Pittsburgh Pirates cap, which a vendor once tried to fool my sister into believing was

“The Yellow Phillies.”

Drive to Philadelphia.

Fly to Panama.

Just get the hell out of here for a change.

Yellow Forest

(Turmeric and various food stains on cutting board)

© Richie Smith