In May we entered the work of six Uplands students into the International Fobisia Poetry competition. Many schools across Asia participate in this competition. Uplands students submitted some wonderful poems written based on the theme of ‘survival’ and we are pleased to announce Timothy Ang’s poem ‘An Enamel Escape’, about a rather terrifying visit to a dentist, won third place for the Year 10-13 age group. You can read Timothy’s poem below.
An Enamel Escape:
Gummy bears and chocolate bars,
Gobstoppers in round glass jars,
I stuffed myself with sugared treats,
Three meals a day I just had sweets,
They partied in between my teeth,
Above my gums and right beneath,
I stopped to look inside my mouth;
My dental health was heading South,
Molars black; incisors yellow,
Both subjected to too much jell-o.
“Open wide” the masked man cried,
While in my mouth, he poked and pried,
He shook his head in clear displeasure,
Then rummaged through his tools of terror,
Pointed scalpels, gleaming blades,
Toxic cordials, ready-made,
And then he flashed a pearly smile,
One that would please a crocodile,
“Let’s commence with an extraction”
Then rubbed his hands in satisfaction.
I screamed so loud, it shook the earth,
The pain I felt outdid childbirth,
In my mouth, a gaping hole,
I writhed about with no control,
Vowing to take this man to court,
I sent a prayer in last resort,
The one above ignored my plea,
Neglecting this poor amputee,
Now deficient of one tooth,
The public had to know the truth,
This man and his reclining chair,
They play no role in dental care,
But rather, what they do to kids,
Is something that we must forbid.
“Drink up now,” he said with glee,
I seized the opportunity,
Into his face, I spat the potion,
Then fled the room in panicked motion.
I’m fortunate to be alive,
With witty thinking, I survived.
