entirely empty except
for a few fallen petals
from a red tulip...
entirely empty except
for a wrapper of a piece
of spearmint gum I
just put in my mouth.
Mint usually helps my
stomach when it's upset.

I think you’ve got an imaginary gun against your head
Because you want to paint the walls in brains and red.
A gun is not a paintbrush that you use when your heart is in distress,
There are a few things that will numb the pain
Like a few pills or a toxic shot to the brain.
Just remember that after you ***** on the ground
And your screams no longer make a sound,
A packet of spearmint gum will be passed around.

She stopped
chewing her gum
and looked
straight at me
She said "want to?"
I said "Yeah"
and we did

©  2017 Jim Davis

got a pink bulb
suckered in mouth—
spit it out. dribble
gobstopper sun,
pause motion to
explosive creation
cake the surface
rubber dumb, POP!

sharp tap like a
snare bubble
vacuum record
in recycling bin
you had it made
su-per-ma-ssive
try again a same
chum the chew
begin renew
anew anew review

There's a scene in "The Hunt for Red October"
When the Americans have the Russians come over
And to lower the tension and show who they are
The men passed around a few strong cigars
Well, if you want to do that where I'm from
You pass your classmates a pack of gum

go on
spit me out
and forget about me
like that piece of gum
on the side of
the road.

fish... fish... fish
in the pond today
I'm in need of a wish
please get out my way

rain... rain... rain
from the sky today
please do explain
why treat me this way?

grass... grass... grass
yes I see the wet grass
I'll just tip-toe on pass
CRAP! I fall on my ***

do,,, do... do
what should I do?
YUCK! gooey gooey goo
sticky gum on my shoe

gee... gee... gee
no umbrella with me
its just not my day
CRAP! I for got my key

phone... phone... phone
my battery is low
please don't  die
I need to call home

hair... hair... hair
get out my eye
its just not fair
I dont want to cry

wet... wet... wet
so freaking wet
this day is so my
unluckiest day yet

stuck... stuck... stuck
trapped under this
black cloudy sky
so much bad luck

today... today... today
I wish it would just
leave me alone
hurry up and  go away

I wish... I wish... I wish...

Life is like a piece of gum
You unwrap a new piece,
Like a fresh start
You start chewing that piece,
Learning how to live

You can blow it,
Let it expand and expand
Until sometimes
It explodes in your face

It might be hard
To clean it off
Sticking everywhere
Making problems
It might take a while
But as you learn
You’ll get better
Through trials
Until the whole piece
Is back in your mouth

Sometimes the gum will get bland
You’ll get bored and sick
You’ll want something new
Something exciting
Something different

So you’ll spit out your gum
Wrap it in a wrapper
And toss it in the garbage
Where it will stay
So you don’t have to remember
Unless you want to

Then you’ll buy a new
And exciting pack of gum
An exciting flavor!
Maybe cinnamon, maybe fruit
Maybe even a mystery pack

Then you’ll start over
A new chapter
Filled with new tastes
And experiences
Like a fresh piece of gum