i am small & animal working a tooth
back & forth over a pocket of pulp
my tongue relentless in pursuit
& purpose flip flap flip flap
a wobbly woe hanging from a tender root
gums swollen in the job of letting go
this loose little bit of body
it’s a canine bicuspid. you tell me
i don’t care to know how easily
the mouth can overtake
settle down. it’s just a baby tooth.
let me take a look.
i open my mouth & you pluck it out
lightning fast like a pick pocket
it’s painless. you tell me
if you don’t know it’s coming.
