Brushing Up: The Preservation Of Teeth

 You offer me a sweet

I deny me this treat

“It corrodes my teeth” I explain

Thus this I politely refrain

 

“Brush your teeth” they said

It keeps them nice and clean

And so of mortal fear and dread

I did exactly as they said

 

Every morning, every evening I stood

Clockwise, Counter-clockwise, circular motions

Reaching every crevice, nook and cranny

Of my healthy preserved teeth

 

You again offer me a sweet

I break open a wide calloused smile

Displaying white glittering perfect teeth

And grudgingly refuse this tempting treat

 

Day after day, morning and night

Right to left, front to back

Always unceasingly scrubbing incessantly

To reveal enamelled, perfectly aligned teeth

 

I stare into the mirror

At the teeth of comforting familiarity

And mundane routine tenacity

Never to experience the sweets of passion

Or the decay of aches and pains

That makes me only human

Is my perfect teeth in vain?

29 November 2011