I feel lighter by a tooth, said Bob.
Returning home after a molar extracted.
Waving instructions saying no hot or cold food.
Essentially, no food at all.
Till swelling abates.
Rattling a bottle of antibiotics.
Picked up after surgery.
When he could have retrieved, started them prior.
Had he been alerted.
Now, not supposed to drink.
Just hold ice on the swollen cheek.
What seemed reasonable to us, lost.
In the periodontist’s hurried day.
Sure we would have handled it differently.
For patients in our former practice.
Phoning them beforehand with to-dos.
Giving warning if a meal off the table.
Till the following day.
But society continues spinning
at a pace that’s hard to catch.
It may be for us seniors
an unfortunate mismatch.
Lynn Benjamin
April 5,2024