Take a gallon of water and add 1/2 tsp. salt then shake then eat some pretzels and drink the water after. The salt is dead, dissolved, over-powered and to this poet it meant that literaturically.
You neither plant or plough me, yet you eat me, I am the child of water, yet if my parent touches me, I die. What am I? Hints are available, after a few moments from posting.