One of my favorite childhood games we played was spin the bottle, and even though I was petrified every time we played it, I still loved it!
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 Mary wants us to write about Childhood Games We Played. Here’s one about my favorite childhood game! It skeert me to death, but I still loved it!
Björn Rudberg (brudberg) said
Charles.. this brought back those memories… yes I have a similar memory (Maria I think it was)… of course life was changed forever..
charlesmashburn said
Yep, it changed everything! I’m still skeert a girls!
claudia said
haha….smiles… we used to play it as well… and there were guys you wished the bottle would stop on you and others…uuuhhhhh… ha – what a weird game it was in a way..smiles
charlesmashburn said
Thanks, Claudia! Sorry I missed your comment Sunday!
Mary said
Hi Charles, great to see you! I loved your reflection on “Spin the Bottle.” It definitely could be a life-changing experience for some. Smiles!
charlesmashburn said
Good to be in the pub, Mary! Going to be out of pocket again for a few weeks, so y’all keep things down to a steady roar!
brian miller said
smiles…thank goodness we have our ladies to get us through that eh? smiles…i played spin the bottle a few times…or minutes in heaven, when you get shoved in a closet with a girl…well…heh….def games we played…smiles.
charlesmashburn said
Now, I never got shoved into a closet with a gal, but I’m quite sure I woulda passed out cold if I had!
Sherry Mashburn said
Too cute!
charlesmashburn said
🙂
Susan Chast said
Very cool: the spin and the fear and the kiss. Well captured.
charlesmashburn said
Thank you, Susan!
wayne karstetter said
Hey man I loved that! It was Joan and Lisa for me, probably the same bottle lol. Life was nothing but fun then. Thanks my friend.
charlesmashburn said
Hey, podnah! Good to hear from ya! I didn’t realize you hung out with Lisa and Joan (there are probably others from the old neighborhood–Diane, Shirley, Pam, to name a few) you probably encountered during those good ol days. That old saying, “the girls in my neighborhood grew up fast” (I’m sure you know the rest) originated in West Valencia, ya know.
shanyns said
Love this sweet trip down memory lane!
charlesmashburn said
Thank you, Shanyn!