IMOGENE’S NOTEBOOK | POETRY

The Trick

A free verse poem

My mouth opens unusually wide. It’s useful — for taking on whole biscuits, oranges, cake slices unbroken (not a crumb spilled). For holding water until the next rest stop, or flashing an apologetic display of teeth.

In calls to order and kissing-contests alike its rubbery lips will stretch to meet the needs of the situation, and can interface in a number of formats: verse, humming, nervous laughter. Words I hope to speak rattle and brew in its vast darkness.

Of course, it can be a chore — scrubbing traces of obscenities and shame with the acrid scum of tar soap. Elbow-greasing until midnight with a heavy-duty toothbrush, working to stymie corrosion and rot.

My mouth opens unusually wide, and it gives as good as it gets. But keeping it shut at the critical moment – that’s the real trick.

Thanks for reading my poem! What did you make of it?

You can find more of my fiction and poetry here, as well as articles about creativity writing and author skills here. And thanks to Sieran Lane for the encouragement.