my gums move like a water wheel 

turning out teeth

that are now dull and edgeless

that are as smooth as soft as river stones

teeth unbefitting of a shark

they are good teeth 

strong teeth 

real teeth 

that have bitten and gnashed and gnawed

they roll to the rhythm of my heart

that pulsing surveyor 

which turns my eyes

and beats my gills 

it keeps me moving 

ever moving

pushing through the current 

and staving off the larger of my kind 

those cannibals

those damned cannibals 

i have lived years longer

than i was meant to.

and i will continue to do so 

as long as i have teeth and heart