Teeth
I lost the first one in a fight
that was all right
the gap balanced my gat-toothed grin
another couple rotted away family trait
that was all right too I stole from my father's grave
I donated a few to the chinese vase industry
& a chubby cherub winged another
wisdom never did strike so from 28 I was down to 17
next to go were the canines
they withered away when I gave up eating meat
as I grew vague & dreamy I had no further use for incisors
my lover swallowed several in vigorous kissing
& to give better head I had the rest removed:
gone gone gone
what you see now are pearls of great price
intricate carved scrimshaw from longdead great whales
a mouth replete with radio receivers television antennae ebony
cradles tiny camera miniature quill pen cuneiform tablet
each spot has a function disguised as a tooth:
I cook my mouth's garden in my mandible wok
1978 or 1979