South Carolina sweat drenching my face
Under this blistering August sun.
Insects preying on my flesh
Just feasting on my salty blood buffet.
The grassy aroma seeps into my nose
Causing this aggravating tingling in
my nostrils.
Whap! Whap! says the whacking weed-eater
Against the shed's metal side.

Molding stainless steel into Jennifer Jones' mouth
For the Miley Cyrus smile that her Disney crazed mom wants.
Reclining the patient back
In “the chair”
Wrapping that cold chain around their neck
That grabs the spit bib.
The grinding of Jennifer's teeth
Sends irritated chills through her body.
Doctoral degree hanging on the wall
Underscored by the first dollar I ever earned.

Eyyyeee! nags Jennifer
When the stainless wire twisted against
her gums.
This landscaper of molars, premolars,
and incisors
Whines silently in my air-conditioned
dental practice
Like the feasting mosquitos
On my once, salty blood buffet.