How long
to tolerate pain?
Many weeks
this cavity, severe,
this hole
turned wolf on me–
no more arguing
when they say go!
Problem is,
my philosophy’s
the way
the flag blows–
west to California,
no, east, no, Midwest
now. Transplant
for a transplant,
my flag flies stink
-bug, flatland,
swamp.
(originally published in Erothanatos, Summer 2021)
As I run hot faucet water
over the head of my electric toothbrush,
Jennifer asks isn’t it better
when we brush our teeth together?
This, of course, is redundant.
I have cleaned the spit
and foam from my brush alone
through the years,
watched clean water slowly spiral
down a clog.
I have taken better care
of myself.
Flossed the plaque
between memories,
tartar of bad habits,
freshened breath
in and out of you.
These I can withstand.
Thus I answer at all.