what if war were measured in baby teeth

by Lisa Kelly

the kiloton of bombs
dropped in baby teeth
the incendiary grief of lives
lost in baby teeth

all those little enamel
baby teeth so pearly
like the gates of heaven
dropping out of mouths

of planes raining down
baby teeth homes destroyed
by baby teeth a child hit by
a precision-guided baby tooth

tooth fairies flying late
in the night to the bedsides
of collateral damage leaving
coins under pillows

obols under tongues
in exchange for baby teeth
silver caskets for baby teeth
for mothers to remember

all the baby teeth stacking
up into cairns
how many baby teeth
it took to negotiate

a diplomatic solution
the treaty of baby teeth
reparations for
teething symptoms

sore gums flushed cheeks
rubbing ears dribbling
and drooling towards
a binding gappy-toothed

smile all signatories agree
to be photographed with
the bloody making way
for adult teeth to erupt