‘Bubblegum or Bruise’
— Andrew Sargus Klein
I wrestled with the decision to highlight just one piece from ‘Mythologies of Childhood,’ part of Winter Tangerine’s Spitfire Series. There are so many good ones in there, I simply recommend reading the whole thing, but ‘Bubblegum or Bruise’ by Olivia Gatwood is one of my favorites. Using a familiar repetitive form (which brought to mind ‘I Remember’ by Joe Brainard), the poem jumps into early memories of milkshakes and embarrassment, sexuality and seventh grade. There are so images so vivid—“blush so pink like milkshake bloodstain”; “blush so pink i wish it was my name”—they could all but stand as their own poems. The poem’s play on language and sense of humor belies its seriousness. Underestimate pink at your peril.