what if war were measured in baby teeth
by Lisa Kelly
the kiloton of bombs
dropped in baby teeth
the incendiary grief of lives
lost in baby teeth
all those little enamel
baby teeth so pearly
like the gates of heaven
dropping out of mouths
of planes raining down
baby teeth homes destroyed
by baby teeth a child hit by
a precision-guided baby tooth
tooth fairies flying late
in the night to the bedsides
of collateral damage leaving
coins under pillows
obols under tongues
in exchange for baby teeth
silver caskets for baby teeth
for mothers to remember
all the baby teeth stacking
up into cairns
how many baby teeth
it took to negotiate
a diplomatic solution
the treaty of baby teeth
reparations for
teething symptoms
sore gums flushed cheeks
rubbing ears dribbling
and drooling towards
a binding gappy-toothed
smile all signatories agree
to be photographed with
the bloody making way
for adult teeth to erupt
