Poetry Friday: "Dear Tooth Fairy"

Short post this week, my friends, but it comes with a book giveaway and a BIG announcement!Announcement first:At the start of 2022, I'll be starting a new job, one I'm excited (and a little bit nervous) about.I'm honored to be joining the faculty of Vermont College of Fine Arts' MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults, VCFA CYA for short. Everyone there has been so nice and accommodating as I prepare for my first semester as a lecturer and advisor to MFA candidates. Just WOW.And now to the giveaway...It's always wonderful when you write a poem and it finds the perfect home -- a journal or anthology that is a spot-on fit the tone or topic of your writing. That's what happened with my poem "Dear Tooth Fairy."I'm grateful to Bridget Magee for including it in 10x10 Poetry Anthology: Celebrating 10 in 10 Different Ways.If you'd like a copy of the book, leave a comment and I'll draw a name at random. BTW, winner of the Plant People giveaway was Linda Mitchell!Here is my poem from 10x10. It's longer than my usual, but it was such a fun exercise in voice. Once this kid got talking (or writing... this *is* supposed to be a note to the Tooth Fairy), I couldn't get them to stop. You'll see the word "TENacity" pop up, in keeping with the book's theme.Dear Tooth FairyBy Laura ShovanYou’re probably lookingfor a tooth under this pillow,rummaging aroundwith delicate fairy fingers,trying not to wake me up.(Don’t worry. Mom saysI sleep like a rock,but as far as I can tellrocks don’t sleep,so you can ignoremy mother on this point.)Mom said you would notleave me money unlessthere was a big fat molarnestled under my pillow,waiting to be scooped upand put in your fairy basket.(How does she knowit’s a basket? Maybeyou carry a backpackmade of dogwood petals.Pink ones. I’m guessingyou like pink.)I happen to have a big fat molar.Or—had one until this morningduring the spelling testwhen I chewed my pencil so hardtrying to remember how to spell"tenacity" that the toothwhich was loose for a weekfinally popped out,skidded across my desk and landedon Melinda’s test paper.Melinda screamed even thoughthere wasn’t any bloodon the tooth. Not much, anyway.It was the funniest thingthat has happened so farin fifth grade, and I’d reallylike to remember Melinda’sface and the way she pushedaway from her desk so fast(to avoid my not-that-bloodytooth) that she bumped into Henry,who fell out of his chair.Tooth Fairy, how will I rememberthis moment of epic hilarityunless I keep my tooth?Did I mention it’s the firstmolar I have lost in my whole10-year-old career of growingand losing teeth? You, Tooth Fairy,are a fan of teeth. You get it.I want to keep this one molar.I have the perfect place for it,a birch bark box, small enoughto fit in my hand. (Youprobably could fit inside this box.It would make a nice hangout.Not that I’m trying to trap you,or anything. Fly free, Tooth Fairy!)Do we have a deal? I get to keepthe tooth, you get to laughabout Melinda’s freak outand Henry falling out of his chairin the middle of a test. Don’t forgetto leave something (a coin or threewould be appreciated,silver dollars are my favoriteform of currency), that way,I’ll know you were here.