Sharp Teeth by Toby Barlow

Me: Hey, look, Ma! I’m reading poetry!
Mom: Oh, Leigh, I’m so proud!
Me: This is so cool! I love it!
Mom: What are you reading? Dickinson? Whitman? Angelou?
Me: Barlow!
Mom: Who?
Me: Toby Barlow, Mom! He’s awesome! He wrote this amazing book-length
narrative poem about werewolves in Los Angeles!
Mom: Um –
Me: Well, they’re not really werewolves! They’re shape shifters who can change
back and forth between human and dog!
Mom: Shape what?
Me: I am having so much fun reading this! I always thought poetry had to be
stiff and dry and boring, but it’s totally not true! This story is
mind-blowing! It’s got great characters and it’s so freaking real! I
couldn’t stop reading!
Mom: Sweetie --
Me: Reading Sharp Teeth is like having sex. It’s like having really good sex!
Mom: Leigh Ann Wallace!
Me: Oops, sorry, Mom! But seriously, you’ve got to read this! It’s totally
changed my ideas on poetry. I’m thinking I might break away from writing
short stories and write a narrative poem of my own!
Mom: Good poetry is inspiring, that’s true.
Me: So. Will you read it?
Mom: Do you promise no more sex talk?
Me: You got it.
Mom: Okay, then. I’ll read it.