I Felt the Demon Today

 I Felt the Demon Today

I sit in the dentist chair, helpless, like a fish out of water.

Like a fish’s fins to it’s body,

my elbows are clinched tight against my sides,

not able to reach the dentists neck!

Though the left side of my face is numb

I feel the pulling and tugging on my #19 molar

as if being the lure trying to be dislodged

from a sunken log attached to 30lb test line!

He wrestles the tooth like an amateur

trying to release a treble hook from a smallmouth,

his hand gripped tightly on the silvery instrument pliers!

I felt the demon today and cursed him!

I try sitting still not wanting him to lose grip

and rip my lip with an errant slip.

My eyes tear up as my buttocks tightens,

I swear my butt raises off the seat with the last upward tug!

I felt the demon today and prayed to God let it be over!

The ordeal ends and I am released to go.

Gauze fills my numb cheek

like a gob of red power bait in a trout’s mouth

too big to swallow.

I walk through the waiting room

trying not to wince in pain or show weakness,

like a trout released back into the pool with his buddies

trying not to look embarrassed

for getting caught in the first place.

I pull into the drive and there’s a triangular package

up against the side door, I try to grin

but feel no facial expression on my numb face!

I slide the green cylinder rod tube out of the cardboard box.

I slip out the rod sock and untie it.

Delicately, I lay down the four pieces.

There it sets, right from Hardy & Greys Limited.

I gently piece together the 7 foot Demon rod 

and grip the 3 weight in my hand.

(I may have slobbered unknowingly)

With no pain, I felt the Demon today,

I thanked God!

_____~doubletaper

The dentist said no strenuous activity for the rest of the day so i went fishing with the new rod.