George Washington Visits the DentistIt was that Valley Forge winter that did it, Doc.
The temperature was so cold that all the horses
froze to death and the men had to eat them
to stay alive. I saved all the sugar cubes we
kept for the horses and ate them myself for two
weeks. After all, a general needs his energy.
But I developed a taste for the sweet things in life.
And now all my teeth are rotten and falling out.
My friends are saying behind my back that when
I smile, I look like the business end of an old
musket. Nothing but trouble, these teeth. The man
from the Mint refused to put me on a coin and that
stuck-up French painter won’t finish my portrait.
Both said the same thing. No teeth, no smile, no can do.
They say it won’t look dignified. Now you tell me
Doc, how can a President look dignified with
a perfumed and powdered wig. Teeth not withstanding.
And the field help, they won’t even listen anymore.
They think I’m old and weak because my choppers
are falling out. They just lie around in the sun
and aren’t worth the gold I paid for them. And Mar,
well she’d rather sit around with Betsy sewing those flags,
probably gonna use one for my burial shroud, those two.
I’m not dead yet, Doc, but she won’t let me get close
enough to show her. How can a man become
The Father of his Country if his own wife won’t
even kiss him. Force her? I tried that once, but Mar’s
a big woman and a good general knows when to
retreat. You gotta help me Doc. I’m losing sleep
over this. And I heard you guys can do wonders
with wooden teeth. Make them look like the real thing.
If that’s true, I’ve got a nice piece of Cherry wood
that I’ve been saving for years. Just one more thing, Doc.
Will it hurt? Now you wouldn’t lie to me, would you?
Paul Scot August*******************
RL
If you have a request for a certain Poet, post their name in the thread and I will find a poem by them and post it...
if you want to see some of my poetry, see the blog at:
http://www.myspace.com/retropaul