Two Poems by Esther Cohen

(Editor’s Note: Esther Cohen is a poet living in New York City. And to do justice to her, who refused to talk about herself in her own blog, I shall not.  The Book Doctor took years to write. She is one sweet person I know. )

 

Dental Procedure
Imagine two words that are not life threatening that still generate the amount of anxiety of Dental Procedure. They could play around with language a little. Today we are going to do something unexpected with the words in your mouth, the songs in your throat. It would never ever be a PROCEDURE.

My beautiful periodontist
Cynthia Gomez
from Manilla grace
and a good haircut
not the Procedure type
(although of course
she is the Procedure)
patients do not talk
to one another in her
small waiting room.
Dentist across the hall
has a door sign:
I am a painless Yoga Dentist
imagine doing down dog
while having something
that is Not a Procedure.
Today I will have
yet another Dental Procedure
and she, a kind woman
who doesn’t use those words
because I made a special request
she repeats, when I am
sitting in her chair
trying hard to think of anything
but my mouth I usually
listen to podcasts
she says is that perfume
Mistouko you are wearing.
I can’t reply.
My mouth is
wide open.

 

Maybe if I Write it Down
Maybe if I write it down
write it out
make a list
the way I see other people
making lists
maybe if I can
say the right words
I will gain control
or at least,
I’ll have a good list
of words.
Post my poems
some days not
every day but some days.
And then, I
earn a living
consulting for
working for
curating
helping people
write their books
dear nick
your book
has the potential
to be better
teaching a course
pitching
a travel article
don’t you dare
miss this
trying to buy
fresh orange juice
going to the library
and then,
reading the stories
of Edith Pearlman
reading too many
articles about Rachel D.’s
race issue, and her hair.
Can she have black hair
if she is white?
Trying not to read about
Caitlin Jenner.
failing in my intention.
And then
there’s afternoon.