Chewing Gum Mountain
Words by Jonathan Langford and Cathy Erickson
TTTO Chickasaw Mountain by Leslie Fish

Among all the legends of chewing gum they say There is a stretch of flavor that never goes away Deep in your closet, all through your classroom Under the seat of your chair: Chew on it if you dare! Be it may a part of LaBrea, it's something older by far: Call it Wrigley's, Trident, Carefree, Tar. It offers two versions that bring you nigh to death - One takes your teeth and the other steals your breath; If there's a third one it's an absurd one Chew for yourself, the expense Costs only thirty cents. Name your brand you have to command to give your mouth something to do And maybe you'd be better off with glue. One old bubble-blower, I know what price he paid When he found a wad 'way back in second grade; He started chewing - speech was abridged Cementing his words deep inside He was just mortar-fied There've been dentists and orthodontists who've tried to get through that jaw; But now he sips his supper through a straw. Whoever has wisdom (teeth) can guess what lies in store -