Poems (Strong)/Ode to the Toothache
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ODE TO THE TOOTHACHEAfter a night of it at FaunsideJune 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!
There! do thy worst with spasm, twinge,
And swollen gum, forsooth;
I rise superior to thee,
Thrice-cussed, gol-darned tooth.
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!
There! do thy worst with spasm, twinge,
And swollen gum, forsooth;
I rise superior to thee,
Thrice-cussed, gol-darned tooth.
AT THE SPRING, PITTSTOWN, N. J.: JULY 14, 1905