To Calm You

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If you are sitting in a dental chair right now,

check your shirt pocket.
You will find a note from
me to you.
If I could be there with you,
I would tell you how happy I am
for you.    That you are in
the safe hands of
good-hearted people
who want so much to
do right by you.
Not to cause you
a moment’s discomfort. You must believe me.
Would you like a blanket? A pillow? Ah, that’s better.
And what’s more,
you cannot imagine how
diligently
obsessively
most dentists are trying.
all. day. long.
Not in a   good-enough  way, no.
But in an unrealistically, devotedly,
Doggedly striving to be
            p e r f e c t  way
And all the while, listen as they make
the most casual conversation
about last night’s movie or recipe or the weather.
Telling the same amusing anecdotes
About their dog or children
over and over, just to distract and
calm you.
As they pass sharp instruments to their assistant, quickly
back and forth in an intense four-handed surgical
pantomime
where two people try to share
                     one mind.
And a lot of hand signals.
Ambidextrous, quick-thinkers, slowly going deaf
listening to high-pitched motors
at 50,000 rpms
alongside Top 40 tunes.   Hunched
from standing on their heads
and straining their necks
at odd angles
holding them just so—
for far too long
as they stare at the miniature
masterpiece--the sculpture--they have just made:
       Cusp of Carabelli 
Illuminated in bright light,
a beauty in shade A2.
She must be natural, not
too tall
In such perfect occlusion
         impossibly
tiny--you will forget
she is even there.
Imperceptibility is the ultimate goal.
And strength.
And longevity (please lord!)
But, in order to create this masterpiece,
the materials must be kept absolutely dry
inside a continuously flooding room
                                   the size of an orange.
Hence all the cotton rolls—I do apologize! 
Everyone hates us.
Everyone says so:
No offense but, I really hate… (yes, yes, we know)
None taken.
We’ll gladly do this.
For you.