Source
r/OCPoetry•
lenny_from_da_block

The Tooth Fairy

You woke up yesterday,

with a tiny gap between your teeth,

and I thought you may have swallowed

your innocence.

I’m not sure how, but I found it,

burrowed in with the zoo of animals

that snuggle you at night.

We knew it was coming—

the dentist warned us weeks ago.

Still,

even during the excitement,

preparing for the Tooth Fairy’s first visit,

I look at the empty space in your baby grin,

and I think of how growing up

is never as magical as we hope it to be.

​

You still tell me

you want to live here forever—

that Your bed is Your bed

and will always be Your bed.

“When I’m as big as you,

When I drive like you,

When I’m a cooker like you—”

Baby girl, don’t be like me.

You’ll put yourself last and

you’ll sacrifice your dreams.

I am dreading the day you wake up

to realize I am the Tooth Fairy—

and I’m just a human being.

.....

1 2

Posted Jul 10, 2021, 3:42 PM UTC

3311
asearchforyou•

:,(

"Baby girl, don’t be like me."

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[deleted]•

[deleted]

5
nickidink•

Saaaaaame!!!

1
dhologram•

I like this poem. However it switches gears from the first lines to the last and because of that its subject is a little unclear. At first the poem is about a perceived child and the wonderment of growing up. The second part is jarring, taking you out of the child's experience and inserting yourself as a negative aspect within. It could actually be two poems fused together. One poem about a child growing up and losing their innocence, and the second about yourself being put second to all you perceive yourself to do (would that include parenting? I think not!).

There's a bit of irony in this poem due to the use of putting yourself "second" as implied with the last lines of the poem, as really you are putting yourself "first" in this poem as the subject switches gears from your child to yourself and ends on that note. I find this poem beautiful nonetheless. Watching one's child grow up (as a non-parent assuming only) must be both magical and somewhat melancholy of an experience. To know that innocence fades in time and we all must come into adulthood mature and ready for the hard world around us.

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lenny_from_da_blockOP•

Thanks so much for this comment. I was rambling a bit with it this morning and I had a hard time hashing it down to where it needed to be. I think this suggestion to develop 2 separate pieces is fabulous and I will likely do that now thanks to your input. Thank you for taking the time to leave this feedback for me, greatly appreciated!

4
dhologram•

It's a beautiful poem! I am still thinking about it!

1
lehellgod•

Dreading the kids growing up is one of the constant nightmares for the parents.

Taking us on a journey with you on how it was your first realization that your kid is growing up is deep and contrasts beautifully with how the initial bubbly setup is.

The second part is such a roller coaster of emotions - the kid promising to never grow old, always stay with you and be just like you sparks joy and a deep sigh in the more experienced reader that its not always going to be and then the climax just creeps on you on how parenthood is difficult and you have to be beyond selfless and go the extra marathon and the stark realization of how the child will soon face the reality is gut-wrenching.

Love the tone of the poem and the waves of emotion each part generates and the imagery you set.

2
hammadk1994•

cool use of the children's story of the tooth fairy.

​

this poem has almost a sad quality to it.

​

favorite line: and im just a human being

2
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[deleted]•

[removed]

1
Small-Button-2308•

Aw😍🥰

1
RobinGayle•

I think this transitions quite nicely from finding the tooth to the anxious thoughts of her future. Very touching and easy to relate to the content, especially the warning "...don't be like me."

1