Your Eyes, Your Hair, Your Teeth

Oh, how the orthodontists
must’ve wooed you parents.
Relentlessly, by phone, by mail.

«Just popping in to say hello
is all. Yes, yes, just checking in
on the little one, you know…»

Those monsters with their pliers
and wires, their designs on your smile,
and their Swedish hygienists.

Believing themselves better
than regular dentists.
Given their way,

they would have
made you just like
all the other ladies,

turning your face
into brand-new Mercedes.
Ah, I wish they were still at it.

Relentlessly, by day, by night.
I’d love to give them the full Pimpernel!
From the shadows I’d appear

like a patient from hell.
«Brace yourselves, gentlemen!
En garde or take flight!

For I’ll die defending
her cute overbite!»

–October 2, 2017