Uncle Bills Special Smile
By Sis Unsworth
The
days before the NHS, all those years ago,
it
was difficult for many, that much we now know,
Dentists
were expensive, not then used by the poor,
loose
teeth or the toothache meant string tied to the door.
The open door was then slammed shut, the patients
they would shout,
and hopefully offending teeth, with luck would be
pulled out.
So, when the NHS was formed, it was a great relief,
No more would people suffer, with bad or loosened
teeth
Many
were quite desperate, and had all their teeth pulled out
“get
yourself some false teeth,” you could hear them shout.
“Your
teeth will all fall out sometime, and then where will you be?”
“The
NHS may fail you know, so get them while they’re free,”
My
uncle Bill did just that, and proudly walked about,
But
every time he came back in, he always took them out.
A
glass of water you would see, with uncles teeth inside.
But
when he went down to the pub, he put them in with pride
I
still can see in my mind's eye, although the years do pass
Uncle Billy’s new false teeth, smiling from the glass.
Copyright
Sis Unsworth
Nice observation on a Historic lifestyle. My dad did the same, he had them all pulled out then for half his life took out his railings (as he called them) and put them in water. Well written Sis. Did you notice you've posted 29 stories and are one of our most prolific authors...
ReplyDeleteFunny and nicely captured as usual Sis.
ReplyDeleteI remember those days Sis. One Christmas in particular. My Dad had had one too many and was sick in the toilet. Unfortunately his teeth were flushed away and he couldn't eat his turkey. One "not too merry" Christmas. It's strange that I remember all these things that far back yet can't remember what my wife tells me a mere 10 mins previously. The poem cheered me up though, thanks Sis.
ReplyDelete