soft hard sensitive

the measure of my day
ticks upon me
around about 
the millenium an imaginary 
big ben ringing 
eight impending strokes
nobody to impress but only 
the most impressionable before me 
who am i but who i am
in the small moments

round up the troops
the hustle and bustle of bristles

my timing
my pace
my way

where are you
hurry up
no you can’t brush yet
say a h h h h h h
say e e e e e e e
open wide
i said open wide
stop trying to sing please
you just spit one second ago
it’s torture by toothbrush
as i constrict my throat to impede
the bubbling over impatience

a slight glance down left
and my black inked-in permanent 
reminder beckons me

home

sodium fluoride 
collides
with humbled pride
the tender green shoots of
every-day moments
to be held gently

Written by Scott Moore
Illustrated by Landon Wideman

Inspired July 2021