By Misti Velvet Rainwater
Date: 11 January 2000

Once Upon a Flavor

Chewed up like cinnamon gum
     spit out
   on the sidewalk
'cause the sugar's 
       all gone
I can only be sweet
     for so long
I have some power
    but it's not
    of the staying
       variety
for five minutes
I'm great
so much better 
than any other flavor
   but you can't 
     blow bubbles
with me and you can't
      expand me
and you ABSOLUTELY CANNOT
   add to me
  with other sticks
     of gum
so if this is how it
      must be
I will remain on the sidewalk
       a tasteless wad
   hard and hoping
    someone will eventually 
      amble along
   and step
    in me