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Still Life with Toothbrushes

by Jon-Jacob F Deal

I stood before the sink



	Where we would stand, naked

	barefoot on the ugly, purple rug

	cats sinuating between ankles

	thunderstorms deep in their slinking bodies,

	tracing affectionate infinities around our legs.



	We would stare at us staring at us and

	I would watch that other self

	bend to kiss your caramel shoulder.




I looked down and saw your toothbrush

Lying next to mine, like sleeping lovers

Or dead spouses, lying in state

As solemn and final a pair as

The two syllables of

                     good-

                           bye.

02/08/2009

Author's Note: 

Here lie the King and Queen of Hearts:
Procter & Gamble-d and lost.

Posted on 02/08/2009
Copyright © 2024 Jon-Jacob F Deal

Member Comments on this Poem
Posted by Eric Hinkle on 02/08/09 at 07:28 PM

This is just beautiful.

Posted by Gregory O'Neill on 02/08/09 at 07:56 PM

Hi Jon-Jacob. Sign me up for this. I think it is excellent. Not just a moment remembered, but more like, cut-out with an Exacto blade. Great write. Thanks.

Posted by Gabriel Ricard on 02/08/09 at 08:53 PM

I love it. Grim but darkly humorous in all the right points. A lot of fun.

Posted by Nicole D Gregory on 07/10/09 at 01:33 AM

Intensely sentimental, vivid and sweet. Really like this. (written by a girl who has never had a cavity) I like the portrayal of the life and death viewpoint of the toothbrush. ~N

Posted by Nanette Bellman on 08/09/09 at 06:28 PM

I concur with Mr. Hinkle. The author's note is devilishly clever...

Posted by Maria Francesca on 10/14/09 at 06:53 PM

I love this. Straight to favorites.

Posted by Kristina Woodhill on 10/26/09 at 04:14 AM

Congrats on POTD! MOst excellent.

Posted by Tony Whitaker on 10/26/09 at 04:32 AM

Well deserved POTD. The imagery and the final clincher are superbly done!

Posted by Bruce W Niedt on 10/26/09 at 11:34 AM

You've been hanging around here since 2001 and I'm just now discovering your poetry, thanks to POTD. This is strikingly good work.

Posted by Nicole D Gregory on 10/26/09 at 08:09 PM

Well. Look at you my friend... getting the appreciation you deserve. ;) Which is to be expected. Congratulations on "Poem of The Day" for one of my favorites. ~N

Posted by Frankie Sanchez on 10/26/09 at 11:39 PM

Very rarely am I thankful for the potd. This is an incredible piece that puts a lot of things into perspective. It also made me want to buy an ugly carpet for my bathroom.

Posted by Charlie Morgan on 05/21/10 at 05:38 PM

...jon-jacod, this is a kingly write, bubba. i see your lovely connections to the language, here in this sniffet of ... the same.

Posted by Linda Fuller on 08/03/10 at 12:22 AM

This is so good...

Posted by Kristine Briese on 06/14/11 at 03:25 AM

The author's note is almost as good a poem as the poem.

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