I should have asked

If I could keep my tooth.

My mouth had been its home

For twenty-five years.

It deserved a ceremony,

Or to become Art.

Together we survived the accident,

Fourteen years ago,

But neither of us fully recovered.

If you’re a tooth

There aren’t many ways to hide 

Your wounds.

If you happen to be me

You aren’t much better at

Acting like everything is cool.

Somebody once called it

Emotional exhibitionism

And I can get away with it

Because I’m European

Like Bas Jan Ader.

We’d rather embark

On impossible quests

Than pretend

We’re okay.