Bubble Gum

Why does Bubble Gum remind me

of the complications of love and desire?

The sticky struggle that’s sweet and sour,

making me stupid and seriously consider

my sanity.

The bubbles you blow, it grows, it expands,

and often bursts. POP!

Like an explosion of flavour and sweetness

that reminds you of youthful innocence and giddiness.

It’s so loud and brightens your mood with a single thought

stretching into a craving for more of the taste.

It’s sugar so its addictive like those

catchy candy commercials with kids chewing their cares

way. It has this unique flavour on its own that

you recognize immediate whether you like it or not.

It’s cute sometimes.

But when you chew it you look a little crazy.

SMACK SMACK SMACK over and over, the

repetitiveness makes you annoying.

Your jaw gets sore and it can rot your teeth

and you get sick and tired of the repetitive feeling.­­

Disappointment when the flavour fades until it’s turned to rubber

and it gets thrown out when you miss the feelings of

the simple beginning of flavourful emotions.

It follows you, the memories in the form of crumped wrappers

littering your space, sticking to the bottom of your shoe –

impossible to scrape off – and the nearly empty package at the

bottom of your bag that you can’t touch because it makes you

physically sick! The disgusting feeling of a

squishy, used lump under the edge of your desk at school

and no matter how many times you wash your hands

you still feel it!

After a session of self reflection

and a trip to the dentist later to fill

the gaping holes in both your teeth and your heat,

you want a break. Then weeks or months later

you get the craving – you fall in love –

all over again.