The Many Uses of Bubble Gum
In my youth, I made
A bubble gum ball . . .
That over time just got bigger and bigger, usually.
It was sticky icky, just like me.
It splattered perfectly onto the wall . . .
The bubble gum wall!
That over time became a work of Art.
Always getting bigger, usually.
Also, a great filler for holes, I’m told.
It also sticks great on bark, and behold,
The bubble gum tree!
Every childhood should have one.
That tree on the walk to school,
Or in the park next to the playground,
Or next to the community pool.
So everyone can share.
But, if you left your ball at home,
Already passed the wall, missed the tree,
There was always that spot under your desk,
Or perhaps that forgotten tuck behind the ear.
Of course, the cute girl two rows up,
Blew the most wonderful, beautiful bubbles.
And when they’d pop, everyone in class knew.
She’d just smile with sticky all over her face.
I, and every other pubescent male, just wanted to pick it off.
No, lick it off would be more correct.
And chew her gum gum ‘til the end of time.
Though, she, and many of the girls, had their own, very own
Bubble gum box.
I prefer freshly wrapped store-bought gum.
All those artificial flavors and “natural” sugars,
They’re the best! Yum!
Mom always bought us Dental Gum.
She claimed it was good for our teeth.
Though, it’s practically impossible to blow bubbles.
But I was never one to pass up a freebee,
Especially when I was broke, which was most of the time.
In my youth,
I always had gum in my mouth.
And I never needed money to buy my own.
If my pockets were empty (which was most of the time) . . .
There was always the ball, the wall, the tree, or the desk.
A quick check behind the ear, just in case I forgot.
If it got stuck in my hair, then probably not.
I don’t have a box, that’s for girls.
I have something better. . .
A bubble gum world!
Copyright ©
Benjamin Bartley
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