This is a work of fiction for the most part. I’m not sure my first kiss was from Lisa, but it’s the memory of that spinning bottle, and the fear coursing through a young boy’s brain and body this little ditty is about. The names, the faces, the places… pick your own, and go back when. That’s what I did. 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
Sharing this oldie but goodie with dVerse Poets Pub, where Fred Rutherford is asking for poems about “First Times”. Well, I’ve got one!
brian miller said
haha…i def remember these first moments…spin the bottle was def awquard…and five minutes in heaven…being put in a closet with someone for five minutes…oy…the memories…of course that was on a church retreat to so….smiles…great write man…
charlesmashburn said
I ain’t lyin; skeert me near to death!
claudia said
oh my…we played this as well…and tongue kissed…there were some you wished the bottle would never stop spinning anywhere…smiles
charlesmashburn said
I hear ya!
hobgoblin2011 said
great way to build and carry this Charles. I only played Spin the Bottle once and wasn’t nearly as lucky. Really excellent write. Thanks
charlesmashburn said
Thank you, Fred!
lenwilliamscarver said
Oh my what a memory to relive , boys were not the only ones to be terrified you know…
charlesmashburn said
Is that why the girls giggled so much? I thought they were laughing at me!
lenwilliamscarver said
oh they probably were laughing at you and all the other boys too.
Audrey Howitt said
Such a tender write about this right of passage–
charlesmashburn said
Thank you, Audrey!
Heaven (@asweetlust) said
I have played this game before….yes, an unforgettable time ~
charlesmashburn said
You’re tellin me!
catnipoflife said
I DO remember ‘spinning the bottle’ and of course, the hay rides! Those were the days. . .
charlesmashburn said
hay rides made me sneeze!
Mary said
Charles, I love this!! You really brought the experience alive! And obviously you conquered your fear. Smiles.
charlesmashburn said
Thank you very much, Mary!
John (@bookdreamer) said
More romantic version then mine!
charlesmashburn said
It did NOT seem romantic at the time, John!
hedgewitch said
The only bottles in my neighborhood were either broken or being scarfed for the deposit, so we played spin the boy.
Just kidding. This was really straight from the child’s mouth to the adult’s ear, and made me smile.
charlesmashburn said
We used to collect bottles and walk down to the little store to cash them in and buy penny candy. (We kept one aside)
Daydreamertoo said
LOL Good game of spin the bottle Charles. Glad Lisa knew what to do, bet you did too, the next time 😉
charlesmashburn said
The girls in my neighborhood grew up fast! (Faster than us boys, anyway!)
hollyannegetspoetic said
Aww, that’s sweet. Thank heavens for a kindly girl to make the first steps. 🙂
charlesmashburn said
Thank you, Holly Anne!
Sherry Mashburn said
Ah, that first kiss . . .
charlesmashburn said
I wish you woulda been there!
ManicDdaily said
Ha! Very charming. That kind of panic universal but very sympathetic and well-conveyed here. k.
charlesmashburn said
Thanks, k!
pandamoniumcat said
Oh that’s very sweet, and wasn’t she a lovely girl. Lovely Charles 🙂
charlesmashburn said
Yes, she was!
Ravenblack said
Such sweetness and that thrill of first kiss, realization of a significance enough to get the boy so nervous and anxious! Wonderful telling. 🙂
charlesmashburn said
Thank you!
poemsofhateandhope said
Remember this kind of feeling well!! You capture youth and sexual awakenings and the related feelings of terror so very well!
charlesmashburn said
Thank you, Stu!
Sabio Lantz said
very fun. But wait, how did your life change. What would a future you bet without the fateful bottle spin and your mentor? Do tell.
charlesmashburn said
Thanks for the comment.
darkangelwrites said
Oh giggle.
charlesmashburn said
That’s what she said!
Polly Robinson said
heh-heh, wonderful
charlesmashburn said
Thank you, Polly!
clawfish said
A transformation moment oh so scary you covered it well
charlesmashburn said
Thank you, Christopher!