The Christian Way of Brushing Your Teeth
by Hezekiah Allen Taylor

For Belle, who brought Scope to my bed and opened up a whole new shiny world

always involves too much saliva and too little redemption
at least, that's what I hear, but the truth is breathed in, rushes past,
often, I find only gossip

religion in the mouth is tough
awash in all things sinful: gluttony, semen, chewing gum
I find that grinding myself away is stimulating
but even that becomes too martyr-ish -- after awhile
enamel resembles the Shroud of Turin, and then
everything is fucked

The Molars are Pentecostals, so they know all about this crap,
but I understand that the Bicuspids are agnostic -- vacilliating
bastards -- they should just chose a side: fish or cut bait,
spit or swallow

Francine's Version -- Hezekiah's Version -- Inspiration
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