Poetry: She Asks

By: Christine McFarlane

She asks

as if its nothing

"Are you nervous?"

I'm quiet

for a second

and I want

to say

hell ya

but don't

I just nod
Unable to speak

My mouth 

wide open

My jaw

hurting

As

her fingers

make their way 

to my mouth

with a shiny steel

instrument

in one hand

I notice
a small mirror
on one side

a tiny
little hook
on the other

She adjusts
the bright light
that shines down
upon me

as she is

about to pick

and probe

not caring

if that one jab

may gauge my gums

or ricochet 

off of 

one of my teeth

I don't dare

say

it hurts 

just a bit

 she asks

anyway

"are you nervous"

I'm quiet

for a second

and I want 

to say

hell ya

but don't

I just nod

Because she 

wouldn't understand

To her

It's just
a job

Cleaning teeth.


2012