An Amber Bead and a String of Teeth

Your mother was a beauty queen
when she was young she carried an amber bead 
(the petrified love of trees) 
under her tongue 
with this pebble she broke
a tooth in every mouth she kissed
and never once choked 
on her weapon – 

And now she is old
she still carries the bead but 
the mouths she presses it to 
are cold
distracted by television or bank loans 
Days of Our Lives 
Tigers and Saints -
her tongue is dry and the bead
is a lump 
in her throat she can feel
at night when the bed 
is empty and 
she lays awake
fingering
her string of teeth.

© Morgan Hart