baby teeth
by Nicolette Visciano
“it’s going to have to come out.”
“but why?”
“it’s been a part of you
far too long,
with its departure
overdue.”
“but why must it leave me?
i’m so used
to running my tongue
over that tooth.”
“it’s going to have to come out.”
“but why?”
“to make room
for a new
tooth to take its place.”
“but why must a new tooth
fill an already claimed space.
it’s only a little wiggly, i swear,
can’t it just stay?”
“it’s going to have to come out.”
“but why?”
“we’ve all lost baby teeth,
i’ve lost all of mine.
the different is i ripped them out myself,
it’s just a part of life.”
“but why must i unroot
a tooth
i can’t remember living without?”
“it’s going to have to come out.”
“but why?”
“baby teeth
were never meant to be permanent,
you see?”
“sorry.”
“but why?”
“for pestering you
with the same question
i should’ve found the answer
to myself, on my own.
for being terrified
of something that was
only a matter of time
or else, i’d never grow.”
“...”
“all done, now that wasn’t so bad!
here’s the baby tooth
you were so anxious to lose.
would you like to keep it?”
“but why?”
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