Chewing Gum Questions

Wed., April 17, 1996

Heather Moltke Lewis And Clark

Questions and ideas fill my mind.

Like the sticks of gum that crowd my mouth.

With each new question, I hope to find answers.

Perhaps at least some substance.

But this impenetrable wad, can only be chewed.

Each chomp just leads to another, question after question.

A continuous procession of rehashing.

I chew until my jaw is sore.

Is it useless to chew that which cannot be digested?

I yearn to swallow,

But I can’t pretend that gum is food.

Will I munch into eternity?

Is there eternity?

Will my mouth grow motionless with age?

With each question, the wad grows larger.

I cannot chew it.

I spit the wad out.

It clings to my skin.

Chomp, chomp, chomp…

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