Page:Poems Strong.djvu/88

ODE TO THE TOOTHACHE After a night of it at Faunside June 7, 1904

Accursed tooth, thou type of sin,
Enjoying ruin wrought,
Emblem of true depravity
And direful battles fought!
How now? Out on thee! Fie, for shame!
Thou hear'st my plaint to mock it!
Would'st thou then rend my very jaw
From out its natural socket?
O gentle tooth, I spoke in haste,
Mine ancient, trusty friend;
Thou grind'st my meat day after day
With no sinister end.
How now? Thou wilt not let me be?
Then I'll say naughty wordy;
Demnition! Darn it! Devil! Damn!
Hell-fire! Hurdy-gurdy!

34