Teeth

By Natalli Amato

A long time gone, the old dream
comes back: full-grown woman,
my teeth fall out, into my hands,
that ache in my gumline. 
There was a time when I slept 
with a crystal under my pillow 
to ward this off. 
Nightmare, I called it. 
This morning I put my feet on the ground,
Glory! leaping from my lips. 
Old friend, old friend, old
friend, the wish to never change

Natalli Amato is the author of three poetry collections, “On a Windless Night,” “Burning Barrel,” and “Gone Walking and Other Departures.” She lives in Burlington, Vermont. wwww.natalliamato.com.