The Last Tooth

The last tooth in a leper’s head was dreaming of McIntosh apples

and siblings, corn on the cob, a woman’s bare bum, etc.

It was unable to smile pleasantly but willing to try.

Yet that poor tooth was not well received. People didn’t care 

that it was hanging in there despite a sense of imminent rot.

So, the feeling that a good attitude was not, in itself, enough

finally caught up with the tooth, and it fell out with The World.