This is a work of fiction for the most part. I’m not sure my first kiss was from Lisa (my best friend Barry’s cousin, by the way). But it’s the memory of that spinning bottle, and that fear coursing through a young boy’s brain and body that this little ditty is about. The names, the faces, the places… pick your own, and go back when. That’s what I did. This is my weekly post to the Gooseberry Garden poetry picnic. Enjoy!
Forever Changed
Bottle spinning, is but a blur
There on the basement floor
All eyes upon it as it slows
Not knowing what’s in store
Was Lisa who set it to spinning
Young goddess with golden hair
Every boy prays, let it stop on me
So a kiss with her I might share
Slower still the pop bottle spins
One last taunting turn then points
My eyes grow wide, I cannot move
Fear has frozen my young joints
Panic takes over my mind then
I’m horrified down to my core
Why am I here, what will I do
I’ve never kissed a girl before
From the circle I jump and shout
No way, I just can’t do it
Lisa gives a wink that says
Calm down, boy, I’ll get you through it
Young lips meet mine a trembling
My life then forever is changed
Fate’s hand upon the bottle spun
My whole world at once rearranged
Copyright © 1998 C. Mashburn
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Marbles In My Pocket ~ The Official Blog of Charles L. Mashburn ~ Poems, Short Stories, and random thoughts from the author of "Be Still... and know that I am God" 
Sherry Mashburn said
Super poem, and fun memory. Is there anyone that didn’t play spin the bottle?
Life: Between the lines said
awww the power of a lovely kiss!!! Nicely captured, the youthfulness, the anxiety, well done! 🙂
My entry: http://lynnaima.wordpress.com/2011/08/25/love-eternal/
charlesmashburn said
Thanks! I appreciate the nice comments!
David (1MereMortal) said
Definitely a moment I can relate with…excellent poem.
charlesmashburn said
I think we all lived this moment, David!
Thanks a bunch for the visit and great compliment! Very much appreciated!
terri0729 said
Oh Chales, Waves of nastogia ran over me. Those younger days with the first kiss ever. Superb! Here’s my offering for this week: http://terri0729.wordpress.com/2011/08/29/soul-kiss/
Enjoy the picnic and God bless.
charlesmashburn said
I know what yoou mean, Terri! Really takes you back.
Thanks for the nice comments!
booguloo said
I agree with L:BtL
charlesmashburn said
Yessir. Lot’s of folks will vote that way.
Thanks for the visit and comment!
eugenicist said
Lovely….so naive yet so cute
Very well put…
Cheers
Megs
charlesmashburn said
Thanks, Meg! I appreciate the visit and comment!
kaykuala said
I can see you’ve brought back the truth to the saying, ‘one remembers the first kiss’ I can relate to that. What mostly happened was the girl did her best to calm down the boy who felt nervous not knowing what to expect in return.You have shown it beautifully!
charlesmashburn said
They say girls mature faster than boys. Back then (probably now, too) I agreed!
Thanks for the nice comments!
Daydreamertoo said
I remember we played spin the bottle but, I don’t remember what we played for now, it wasn’t a kiss though… Lucky you~!
charlesmashburn said
I didn’t know there was anything else you played spin the bottle for!
Thnaks for the visit and comment!
Katherine said
Wow such a cute story in your poem! Thanks for sharing it with us 🙂
charlesmashburn said
Thank you for reading and commenting, Katherine!
Ina said
First kiss 🙂 if it is given in joy it is such a good memory!
charlesmashburn said
Yes! Thanks for the visit and comment!
Dakshi said
lovely… 🙂
charlesmashburn said
Thank you for the visit and comment!
tigerbrite said
Lovely story well poemed.
charlesmashburn said
Thank you! Appreciate the visit and comment!
Mike said
A lovely poem.
Brought back all kinds of memories from long ago and playing this game.
charlesmashburn said
Thanks, Mike! Appreciate the visit and comments!
The Cello Strings said
vivid capture of your emotions on your first kiss,
with girl character in it, perfect and enjoyable.
charlesmashburn said
Thanks for the visit and comments!
The Noiseless Cuckooclock said
you never fail to impress.
cheers.
🙂
charlesmashburn said
What a wonderful compliment! Thank you very much!
Kim Nelson said
Charles~
Your poem carries the reader right back to adolescent hi-jinx and coming of age. Terrific work.
charlesmashburn said
Thank you, Kim. It took me there, too!
Gigi Ann said
Oh yea… I remember playing Spin the Bottle. However, I didn’t know it made you guys so nervous. I loved That Blast From the Past today.
charlesmashburn said
Well, it probably didn’t make all the guys as nervous as it did me. I was terribly shy when I was that age (9-12) and girls terrified me!
Thanks for the comments!
Pat Cegan said
Loved, loved, loved your poem. My first kiss, 53 years ago (I can’t believe) it was via a kissing game. I remember the boy coming at me and then nothing for the next five minutes! What fun to remember that. Thanks! hugs, pat
charlesmashburn said
I’m glad my little poem could take you back to experience it all over again, Pat. I’m glad, too, that you loved the poem!
Broken Sparkles said
I was so nervous when my first kiss happened, that I never managed to recall any memories about it, but the second …oh I do remember like it was today 🙂
Masterful way of fitting your memory into a poem. I liked it! The game, the emotions, the little story … Beautiful!
charlesmashburn said
Well, my memory of this little game is cloudy at best, and yet, somehow, it’s as clear as a bell.
Thank you fro the awesome comments!
Kellie Elmore said
I love this, Charles! And the fact that you called it a”pop” bottle made me smile 🙂 Haven’t heard it called that since I lived up north. Thanks for sharing this with me. Great piece! Hugs!
charlesmashburn said
I didn’t know “pop” was an up-north term. We called it soda pop when I was young, and still refer to it as that now and then. I guess all the trveling we did when I was young, we picked up phrases from the plalces we passed through. I went to nine different schools, in I don’t eevn know how many states, in the first three grades.
Thanks for the great comments, Kellie!
fiveloaf said
nice stye charles! thank you for sharing. here’s mine.. http://fiveloaf.wordpress.com/2009/11/24/fluttering-in-an-envelope/
charlesmashburn said
Thank you for the visit and comment! Thanks for the link, too!
Raivenne said
Ah, how many first kisses began with spin the bottle? Wonderfully and wistfully told, Charles.
charlesmashburn said
A bunch, I’ll bet ya!
Thanks for the visit and nice comments, Raivenne!
Donna Swanson said
Another good one, Charles. Thanks
charlesmashburn said
Thank you, Donna! I appreciate the visit and comment!
Blossom Vydrina said
Well captured!
charlesmashburn said
Thank you! I appreciate the visit and comment!
danroberson said
Charles, you have a delightful story within your well-crafted poem. Very nice.
charlesmashburn said
Thank you very much, Dan!
dc said
Haha – that took me back!
charlesmashburn said
That’s what I’m talkin bout!
Thanks for the visit and comment!
Wyoming Diva said
I never played spin the bottle, but what a lovely memory – thanks for sharing the angst and emotions of that first time!
charlesmashburn said
Thank you for the visit and comments!
Elizabeth Hernandez said
I so remember spin the bottle. Oh Yes! The fear and what was to take place and happen. whether it a kiss or …. Caught so well here in your prose” Extremely well done. Thank you for stopping by!
Blessings
charlesmashburn said
Thank you, Beth! I appreciate the great comments!
Kay Salady said
This certainly brought back some memories for me, Charles! That was great!
charlesmashburn said
Glad you enjoyed it, Kay! Thanks for stopping by!
A.B. Thomas said
A fantastic memory to ecapsulate into such a great write! I never played spin the bottle but in my early adult life I did have similar experiences with pass the bottle…
charlesmashburn said
Thanks for the great comments, A.B.! Much appreciated!
Morning said
it is both timid and exciting experience,
remarkable recalling..
🙂
charlesmashburn said
Thank you! I enjoyed the visit and comments!
kshawnedgar said
You wrote this in 1998?
charlesmashburn said
Yes. Many of the poems I post were written in 1998. It was a very prolific time for me. I was in a groove!
Hope said
enjoyed your write very much. nice style and fun to read.
thank you for your visit and comment on mine today 🙂
charlesmashburn said
You’re welcome, and thank you, too!
Pervagus said
Really enjoyed the poem. Made me smile so much. Never played spin the bottle myself (went to an all boys school ;-)) Great write
charlesmashburn said
Thanks for the great comments. Much appreciated!
Sarah Johnston said
I am so happy you submitted this for the potluck. I do enjoy reading your site so much. I have read so many good posts on this site. Mine this week is http://gatelesspassage.com/2011/08/29/the-one-and-only-kiss/
charlesmashburn said
Thank you, Sarah! I am so glad to hear you are enjoying my blog!
ghosterb said
I love your poem my friend! What a fun memory to spin into a beautiful poem.
charlesmashburn said
Thank you so much. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
pure2core said
wow! wow! wow! thoroughly superb expressive poetry…Hats off..Thanks for share..
charlesmashburn said
Love to get these “wows”! Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed the poem!
dani said
love this! everyone nervous, but even more so if you liked the other person.
charlesmashburn said
Yes! It was an exciting time, learning about the other “side”!
Thank you frot he wonderful comments!
Rekha said
We played the spin but only for other truths and dares….this sounds so much fun…I love how your words always have a natural flow and seem effortless.
charlesmashburn said
Thank you for the great comment and compliments, Rekha! (It was fun!)
Miss Kitten said
I really like your take on the challenge. You really convey the sense of awkwardness and gentle panic in the moment. Hmm…now I’m trying to remember my first. I remember the kiss, but I can’t recall his name. It’s on the tip of my tongue, haha…just like he was.
charlesmashburn said
You are too funny! On the tip of your tongue.
Thanks for the visit and wonderful comments!
Susie Clevenger said
Yes memories of spin the bottle…thank you for sharing yours. It took me back to my own nervous days of youth.
charlesmashburn said
Those were some days, Susie. Glad I could take you back to them.
Thanks for the visit and comments!
Elyas Mulu Kiros said
A beautiful story and a beautiful poem! 🙂 … i feel like am watching a movie. U captured the scene with your words so cleverly. 😀 … the spinning bottle, Lisa, and the boy, … I see them. awesome storytelling!
charlesmashburn said
Thank you for these awesome comments and compliments, Elyas! I appreciate them very much!
Ankoku Hikaru said
Nicely Written.
charlesmashburn said
Thanks for the visit and comment!
emmett wheatfall said
A great subject to write about. I remember those days and that experience all too well. You capture it brilliantly, and give a brief glimpse of my long ago youth. A wonderful write.
charlesmashburn said
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Emmett. Thanks very much for the comments and compliments, too!
becca givens said
This is a great memory woven with delightful prose … thank you for sharing. I honestly can say – I do not remember going to a party with spin the bottle … I know of it … but for some reason I don’t recall … hmmm, that may say something too! LOL
charlesmashburn said
Oh, Becca, I remember so well, being at a party or just with a group of neighborhood friends, and someone suggesting we play spin the bottle. I would panic! I can’t remember why it scared me so, but it did!
Thanks for the visit and great comments!
Life said
awwwwwwwwwww……..i loved it…:)
this is so crisp and so cute..:)
and thanks for visiting my blog as well.
Life
my new update is http://blindfold-princess.blogspot.com/2011/08/awaiting.html
charlesmashburn said
Thanks so much for the wonderful comments.
And, you are quite welcome for my visit!
deadpoet88 said
Nice one, I have never played this game,but I have watched others playing. I always thought it must be kind of scary. You’ve brought out those feelings well. well done!
charlesmashburn said
It was scary on several levels actually.
Thanks for the read and comment!
PhotoDiction said
Brings back such memories. How many first kisses were bestowed by this wonderful game of innocence 🙂
charlesmashburn said
There is absolutely no telling!
Thanks for the viit and comment!
Caledoniapoems said
A great poem – thanks for sharing 😉
charlesmashburn said
Thank you for the nice comments!
David King said
Lovely poem. Cleverly avoids the usual traps. Very refreshing.
charlesmashburn said
Thanks, David. I appreciate the visit and comments!
Kalahari blues said
Fate’s hand upon the bottle spun
My whole world at once rearranged
so genuine…yeah those days of awakening
enjoyed this !!!!!
charlesmashburn said
Thanks so much! This is one of my personal favorites. Glad you enjoyed it!