,            ____,         (                     09/12/01  anada482  ,
   / \  ,_____  (--|_\_,,_, _  _| _    __________ ,-.______ _,---._ __ _/ \
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 /    /          (        |__,                  (  (   ,'            `/    /|
 \   /                                           \  `-"             \'\   / |
  \ /                   "Poem"                    `.              ,  \ \ /  |
   Y--------                             ----------/`.          ,'-`----Y   |
  /                   bu X-tabai                  (            ; mEoW!@/|   '
 i________________________________________________|  ,-.    ,-'_______/ |  /
   |                                              |  | (   *            | /
   |____________________ Anada is cat-friendly! __)  |__\  `.___________|/
                                                  `--'   `--'

 when a well-known ache
 creeps into my jaw,
 the time for self-surgery
 is at hand.  my right hand
 steals into my mouth,
 tests the offending tooth
 with tender fingertips,
 elicits a slight spark -
 a start, but not enough.

 more invasive action
 is required.  i am inspired
 to fix two fleshy clamps
 around the baleful bone
 and pull with all my might.

 i almost see The Light;
 electric tongues fork
 inside my fevered brain.
 ye gods, the pain!  but now
 pain is my pulsing battery.
 one last terrible tug
 and i have it, to the root.

 it will grow back, i know -
 it always does. even so,
 this sullen ivory prize
 will sit on my sink, until
 i must next spit blood.

 /\___/\ ____________________________________________________________ /\___/\
 \ -.- /                                                              \ -.- /
 `-.^.-' (c) 2001 Anada e'zine                             by X-tabai `-.^.-'
   /"\ ________________________________________________________________ /"\