dental culture
there's no such thing as a colorblind toothbrush.
the analog and electric, target-bought and mail-ordered
discuss cuisines, agendas, class war
a twin, pink translucent, of the two-pack settles into the faceted glass
in her lover's bathroom, finally. cupmates with a sleek and motored subscription model
she spies joyfully, telepaths to her other at home he loves you
the twins transit different meals--hers rushed, boxed, instant
his clean, co-op, crafted
and their takeout, hotpot, buffet
no brush knows who pays more, only who can or should
a walmart multipack roosts together, house of five
the stingy mothers' eager for some heavenside peace
father's bent-haired with vigor, shortlived
older sister's praiseworthy perfect circles foretell neurodivergence
youngest son's lonely from neglect
they take on veganism, convert to keto or halal
know denture, carry fleck and remnants
pot liquor, basmati rice, rare white chocolate, daily inhaler
homecooking too piquant or pungent for work
they are gifted from dentists, throwaway
or immortal & many-headed, used to caressing
soft holes in the comfort-eaters' enamel
they are worshipped by a city of body flora
from great- and grandparents, genetic recipes.
they know work hours, drinking ages, Fajr and Maghrib,
meet wisdom or baby teeth, summer icee, fermentation, imported cigar,
mourn lost teeth, tussle against a grill
size up techniques--is it weak with ignorance? maid-guided? mother-modeled?
even the unopened have strong thoughts on healthcare
take saliva samples, weigh cortisol,
feel as racism unwinds telomeres,
or must scrub tongues too quick with epithets
taste bile that rises from the stomach
up the pyramid of hate
they boast of their travel cases, airplane food,
the dietary shift of other lands
or are silent with poverty-shame, bodies weak plastic
& as gums soften, as nests are flown
despite all flavors of loss...
Any object loved well for a hundred years gains life, they say.
if our old cleaners bide their time in landfills
--panoptically, they've seen how we speak to each other--
i wonder their verdict, if we're due to be judged