life’s bruises emerge through my teeth. all the ugliness the pain the holes and darkness concentrate there. amongst these tectonic plates. plates that move. but move slowly. they struggle in their contained space. in this mouth that is so unforgiving and so narrow for them. the mute beasts.

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ivory monsters they are. silent and watching. rooted but wanting to get out. sharp sharpening. cutting through. pressing so much. in the corners. to the front. they want to move. they push forward. they reveal their hidden bodies. flesh withdraws. gums letting them get their way. very very slowly. like flowers you’ll never see them grow. never see them change. but oh they are scheming and gaining territory. yes they are.

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this lazy gullible tongue sleeps inside them, unsuspecting. this tongue oozes her fluids and unwillingly, helps them. tongue helping my scheming dangerous teeth. these teeth who know so much of pain and fear. these teeth that have always been there. and want and need so much. and will use so much. and will win.

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they will devour what is left of me. they will emerge the victors. in my mouth and out. they will crack my face open and transform flesh to precious living bone. they will grow and make of me a yellowing white mask. a living treasure. a crown sprouting from the inside. biting and gnashing. beautiful. terrible. primitive. unstoppable. t-e.e:t~h…

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