Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Chewing Gum Communion

Chewing Gum Communion
By Larry Linville

The Lord's Supper is not new to me
I've taken and served it many times.
The other day I did something dumb
and there were no good reasons or rhymes.

I was handed a piece of the bread
and dipped it in the chalice with prayer.
But soon I noticed a strange substance
in my mouth as I returned to my chair.

I had some chewing gum in my mouth
which soon was mixed with the piece of bread.
I couldn't tell it to anyone
because my face was a glowing red.

Sourdough bread tastes funny with wine.
Spearmint gum doesn't match either one.
And this crazy new taste in my mouth
gave my mind and body a big stun.

With the body of Christ and that gum
blended in the strangest tasting wad
I knew I needed to do something
‘cause I couldn't spit out the son of God.

I was persistent as I chewed and chewed.
The bread was finally ingested.
But I had some new theology
and some thoughts that must be digested.

It taught me that God will always be there
in all my sticky situations.
And if I keep doing what I should do
He will straighten out my relations.

© Copyright 2008 Larry Linville (UN: larrylinville at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Larry Linville has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

This one is funny

I saw the article in the Milan paper about you and your book.

You are now famous.

Larry Linville said...

thanks. I've had a lot of people laugh at this poem.

I'm happy about the Milan article. I have ordered my second 100 so I'm selling them well. I won't get a report on the on-line orders until the end of the quarter.