2022 Post #17 -- A Poem to Inspire Confidence and Swagger

by Jessica Sherburn

Patrick Kindig’s poem "Gum Patrick” is a humorous and relatable exploration of how even the smallest details -- in this case, the gum we chew -- can elevate our sense of self-esteem and inspire confidence.

NOTE: If you teach this poem, students will ask you for a piece of gum -- guaranteed. You have been forewarned.

After reading the poem (and reviewing appropriate gum disposal techniques) ask students to consider the following questions:

1. What can the speaker do confidently when they are chewing gum? How do they walk, talk, and move through the world with swagger?

2. Which situations in life make the speaker feel vulnerable, uncomfortable, or worried? How does chewing gum change this?

3. What would a perfect day look like for you? How would you walk, talk, and be in the world? What would magically go right? What awkward or confusing situations would you avoid?

In the past, my students have listed ideas like:

• Never pushing a pull door (or vice versa)
• Striding through the crowded halls without bumping into anyone
• Hitting every greenlight
• Getting all As
• Never draining their phone battery

What’s an item of clothing, accessory, situation, etc. that makes you feel extremely confident, even if only for a brief amount of time?

Students often identify things such as:

• Athletic uniforms, theater costumes, or other hobby related clothing/accessories
• A new outfit or pair of shoes
• Sunglasses
• Driving with the windows down
• Listening to the perfect playlist

Ask students to put all the pieces together to draft a “Gum Patrick” style poem, like “Fresh Haircut Jess” or “When I Wear My Ray-Bans.” Then sit back and enjoy the bustling, gum-smacking energy of the classroom as your students write their way to their best imagined selves.

Further Reading from Patrick Kindig

Jessica Sherburn lives in Chicago, Illinois where she teaches English at Stephen T. Mather High School. She has served as a Representative-at-Large within the Michigan Council of Teachers of English and a Teacher Advisory Group Member for the Zekelman Holocaust Memorial Center. Follow her on Twitter @JessicaSherburn.