broken teeth

my teeth are broken for years now
when I was 15 years old I told my mom
take them all out and give me dentures
but she turned her back
probably facing back towards cooking the pork chop
(I only remember eating pork chops)

she got me braces
the orthodontist said I was highly evolved
she yelled at me when I didn't wear my retainer
and my broken broken teeth
rearranged themselves crooked
the day after Halloween sophmore year
my front tooth throbbed
I tried to swallow a tylenol at the spirit rally
sitting on the bleachers
but instead spat it out into the hair
of the girl in front of me
she didn't seem to notice

yes they've gotten yellower over the years
I don't remember when that started
but the dentist said there's no enamel left
and they soak up color
and the molar that never grew in
and the molar below it that leans towards my tongue
because there's nothing to keep it standing up straight

when smile big now
that's a reclaiming
a resistance against that same old pressure
lean into that