I revel in the scent of bubblegum from your hair.

it will be cold tomorrow when you exhale your morning puffs of smoke and
it will be cold today when you slap me across the face.
it was cold yesterday, too.

today you are bubblegum
and I want to keep you forever and ever and ever

two days from now
you will sit in this chair
and you will not be bubblegum.

you will be whiskey and rye
you will be loud and angry and red red red red red red red
and I will be.