HOME      CURRENT ISSUE      AUTHORS
ARCHIVES      SUBMISSION GUIDELINES     CONTACT

 

Broken Dream
by Linda J. Thomas

Use your tongue to tuck the broken tooth
inside your cheek.
Be careful. Don't swallow.
Will a dentist see you at this hour?
A broken tooth. Now another!
Be sure no one is watching.
Then spit the shattered pieces
into your hand.
Hide them in your pocket.
Spare change you can't spare.
Act normal.
Are you crumbling from the inside out?
Can a dentist put all the pieces
back together again?
Stay calm.
Why didn't you keep that last appointment?
And another one!
Smiling is not an option.
Do not speak. Just nod.
Roll your tongue around what remains—
the smooth and the jagged.
Sitting in the waiting room,
pieces in hand.