The Prude

 

THE PRUDE

A woman who tended to brood

On anything sexy or nude.

Would slam shut a book

Saying 'I cannot look

At anything crude, rude or lewd!'

*

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

BUBBLEGUM

I've never chewed on bubblegum;

I've never had the pleasure

Of blowing a big sticky ball

Almost too large to measure.

I've never tasted the colour pink,

Or learned the art of blowing;

I've never seen the bubble grow

Filled with air to overflowing.

I've never felt the bubble burst

All flatly on my face.

I've never peeled the remnants off,

Every elongated trace.

*

But I have worn a gas-mask;

That was my childhood thrill,

And I remember it clearly; I think I always will.

Childhood is a joyful time

Whatever the circumstance

And my childhood was a wartime one,

By pure historical chance.

And I remember the air-raid shelters,

Where children sat in rows,

Each child with a gas-mask

Covering it's nose.

We made such glorious noises,

Lavatory noises really,

Blowing bubbles at each other.

I still hear us clearly!

Now young people blow their bubbles

Of a peaceful sort of pink;

In my childhood I did the same.

I'm glad there is a link.

*