Thoughts On Teeth Poem by Sidi Mahtrow

Ever starred at someone's open mouth
And noticed the teeth that are peeking out,
Sometimes they are there to see
Even when the owner doesn't want them to be.

Perhaps the lips are drawn tight
To hide some mystery from the light
Or to project a grim unsmiling face
Making sure that there's no joy in this place.

But mostly teeth are there to bare
So everyone can the moment share
As example when the camera flashes
To reveal the pretty white ones.

Of course there's the Terry Thomas gap
That is a trademark of his grin
When he with perhaps a lecherous smirk
Is going to do someone a bit of dirt.

Or when in television glare
The pretty anchor is about to share
Some bit of news with breathless presence
Announcing some catastrophic event.

But I prefer to remember most
Those teeth that long ago gave up the ghost
And while yellow and sculpted with cavities many
Are saved to remind one of the relief from agony
That a visit to the dentist office brought
When extraction was the solution sought.