Picture of Kacper NiburskiKacper Niburski is a medical student in the Class of 2021 at McGill University. He is also the CMAJ student humanities blog editor. Follow his writing instagram: @_kenkan.

 

 

plastic plants in the dentist clinic
that you haven’t visited since you were a child
wearing a yellow smile and proud stain of mustard on your shirt
that has followed every laundromat you’ve ever been to
even now
tucked into a sleek black suit stiff grey pants
a belt that chokes the words from your tongue
when the hungry technician sticks too-much-please-stop
in your mouth
asks you how you are doing
tells you not to talk despite the question
as she is trying to fix this whole thing
and you are ruining it all

when you leave
you notice pink fluoride has accidentally spilled
on your shoulders

that too
does not come out
after years of bad breathing
that only the plastic plant really knows how
to live with