Poems (Strong)/Ode to the Toothache
ODE TO THE TOOTHACHEAfter a night of it at FaunsideJune 7, 1904
Accursed tooth, thou type of sin,Enjoying ruin wrought,Emblem of true depravityAnd 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 jawFrom out its natural socket?O gentle tooth, I spoke in haste,Mine ancient, trusty friend;Thou grind'st my meat day after dayWith 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