Elegy For My Wisdom Teeth

I.

Out with my wisdom tooth

I already feel none the wiser

I feel quite foolish in fact:

Gums leak blood-coloured iron –

it tastes like yolk from fried eggs –

and cheeks are expected to swell

My uncle tells me he needs to yank out another one –

Et tooth, Brute?

II.

Second time, I bit my uncle twice

They gave me a surgical hairnet

I felt like a bit of an airhead,

My thoughts surrendering to the drill.

When it’s all over I’m told that I lack underbite

They want to push my canines to the left but it sounds futile

Still, I’m a major champ, and keep on biting

As I leave, I toss the tooth in the outside bin.