Welcoming What Isn't There.

Remember the partial denture I had fitted to fill the two gaps in my lower teeth, one on either side? I gave it a trial period of three days and intended to persevere for a week, in spite of the pain and discomfort. I thought my mouth might get used to it and everything would be OK. Something other than pain and discomfort tipped the balance.

This contraption consists of two ‘teeth’ attached to a little plate that fits behind and below the front real teeth. It also has two wire clips that grip the existing teeth either side of it. And guess what happens – food gets stuck underneath the plate and clips and you can’t remove it without taking the whole denture out. That means taking it out every time you eat something and cleaning it. Not very practical, is it? The alternative is to have a gradual build up of masticated and slowly festering food in your mouth all freggin’ day! After three days, the prospect was turning my stomach, and dear little denture had to go. Welcome back gaps.

Those gaps have been there since I was a child. They’ve been with me through hell and high water, through successes and failures, through tears and laughter, through combat and romance, through delirium and despair. They’ve accompanied a non-poet through a sometimes Byronic life.

So welcome back, old friends, and damned be he (or she) who cares that you don’t exist.