I’m stood in front of the sign outside the dentist
rolling my tongue around my mouth
to answer the question with Yes, four.
The gaps have closed over the last 20 years
and I can’t even remember why
they had to be taken from my skull.
I wonder where they are. I wonder if they remember
me. Of course they don’t. I wonder why my brain
wastes our time putting sadness on things like
lost teeth. My son is laughing as he strokes
the giant front teeth of the lady painted on the wall.

© Carl Burkitt 2022