there is something
~tragic~
about terrible gum

especially in one’s
favorite
flavor:

the excitement
for the bright blue
of ultra-sour
blueberry

the curly-q
of a whole big tape
of bubble gum
waiting in front of you

and to have the initial unfurl
of the roll
snap
and break
and shatter
only bodes ominous
for the rest of the experience

and then
for the flavor to be good
for maybe four seconds
just makes the loss of flavor
later
hurt one’s soul
a million times over

and if that weren’t enough

right when you think you should just
spit it out
be done with it,
a random flavor pocket will burst to life
and you want to chew more
to not waste any flavor,
but the chewing hurts your jaw
and the flavoring is overall
so underwhelming

this disappointment
is one of the worst
of my life

[not really, but man,
when you are *in the mood* for some
blueberry bubble gum
and this happens…
the soul aches
for brand-name hubba bubba
bubble tape]