The Truth of Teeth

Everyone recalls the glamour,

Summer snow and gilded wreath;

For the faerie folk they clamour -

For they have forgot the teeth.

Take delight in light in darkness,

Know the changeling's mother's grief;

Magical respite from starkness,

Mundane life rewards relief.

But delight is double-edged,

Lotus-eaters, dozy, warn;

Faerie-tales have all alleged,

Delighted may precede forlorn.

For there's nothing born of nothing,

Magic; never zero-sum.

If you can afford the scuffing,

Owed by you when piper comes.

Dream of faerie-tale romances,

Closer look to see beneath,

Gilded dreams delight in chances

To remind you of the teeth.