Yesterday the dentist
\nworked in the border country
\nof my teeth.
\nThe last upper molar,
\nworking for years without recognition.
\nCrunching and grinding,
\nbowing and scraping
\nto those in front.
\nTo the proud garrison
\nof white, chess like pieces,
\nstanding at attention.
\nThe king and queen upper front,
\nand the firm pawns ringing the bottom.
\nSet for war or a feast,
\nfor holiday frolic and smiles,
\nthe sweet taste of tongue,
\ncognac, beef,
\nthe good life.
\nAppearing with my words,
\ntaking attention,
\nflossed first,
\nand brushed with the care
\nof spoiled children.<\/p>\n
The molar however,
\nhidden to the rear,
\nwounded in battle,
\na piece broken from toil,
\nwas ground and hacked,
\ndrilled and plummeted,
\nwhile the dentist hummed,
\ninserting his hand down my throat.
\nFingers as large as sausages
\neverywhere in my mouth,
\nmisshapen forever,
\nlips thin as rubber bands.
\nHe asked in this endeavor,
\nif I was OK, hypocrite that he was,
\nwhile the poor molar
\ncowered and faced him alone,
\nbrave little soldier,
\npreparing for the end.<\/p>\n
But it was going to be a crown,
\na new face,
\non this miserable bone of a tooth.
\nA cap of porcelain
\noutliving the pyramids.
\nI nodded to the dentist,
\ndo your worst,
\ndo your damnedest,<\/p>\n
be quick as a Judas,
\nas I betray the molar
\nto its fate.
\nLater,
\nit will forgive me.
\nLater,
\nmy mouth will restore its shape.
\nLater,
\nI\u2019ll crunch and grind
\nbut give my respects to the tooth,
\nthat stopped the barbarian
\nat the gates,
\nby flossing it first,
\nand giving it more time
\nwith the brush.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Yesterday the dentist worked in the border country of my teeth. The last upper molar, working for years without recognition. Crunching and grinding, bowing and…<\/p>\n