DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL R.N.
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Class IX_Communicative English
OH, I WISH I'D LOOKED AFTER ME TEETH!
SUMMARY
The poem begins with a regret from the poet who wishes that she had cared for her teeth when
she had been eating too many toffees, sweet sticky food and gobstoppers. She wishes that she had
taken care of her teeth and had spotted the cavities under them while brushing. She also wishes
that she had more teeth than filling and that she had bought something harmless with her money
apart from the sweets. When the poet thinks of the lollies, candies, peanuts, sweets; she is full of
repentance. She feels sorry for herself that she did not give up eating those sweets although she
used to brush regularly and checked for decay. Because of the sweets, she has to now undergo
injections, drills and fillings which are very painful. The narrator shows her teeth to her mother.
Her mother tells her that having a tooth is equal to having a friend. The narrator did not take her
mother’s advice. She never took care of her teeth. The narrator says that she showed the
toothpaste to her teeth. She brushed them up and down and checked them carefully and found out
that she was able to eat and bite. The narrator thinks that if she had known before that by eating
so many sweets and ignoring her teeth, she was making a way for cavities, caps and decay and
causing the use of injections, drills and fillings, she would have thrown away all the sweets. The
poet had to go to the dentist for drilling, fillings etc. She sat in the dentist’s chair in distress while
the doctor drilled into her mouth. She can hear the drilling sound while the dentist works on her
molars. He says that he would have to carry out two fillings with amalgam in them. The narrator
finally ends her poem by saying that she had once laughed at her mother’s false teeth as they were
foamed for cleaning. But is it now the time for her to wear the same and wishes that she had taken
care of her teeth.
POETIC DEVICES
"Oh, I Wish I'd Looked After Me Teeth" is a humorous poem by British poet Pam Ayres. The poem is
known for its wit and clever use of poetic devices. Here are some of the poetic devices used in the
poem:
Rhyme Scheme: The poem has a regular and consistent rhyme scheme, which contributes to its light
and playful tone. The rhyme scheme in each stanza is AABB.
Rhyming Couplets: The majority of the poem is written in rhyming couplets, where two
successive lines rhyme. This helps maintain a steady and rhythmic flow in the poem.
Repetition: Repetition is employed for emphasis and to create a memorable and rhythmic effect.
The repetition of the phrase "Oh, I wish I'd looked after me teeth" throughout the poem serves as
a catchy refrain.
Hyperbole: The poem uses hyperbole, exaggerating the consequences of not taking care of one's
teeth, to convey a humorous and cautionary message. The over-the-top scenarios create a comical
tone.
Irony: The poem employs irony, particularly in the contrast between the speaker's regret and the
humorous exaggeration of the consequences. The speaker expresses regret in a light-hearted
manner, adding to the comedic effect.
Imagery: Ayres uses vivid imagery to paint humorous pictures of the speaker's imagined dental
woes. The images created help to engage the reader's imagination and contribute to the overall
humour of the poem.
Metaphor: The poem includes metaphorical language, comparing neglecting one's teeth to
"paving the way" for future dental problems. This metaphor adds a layer of figurative meaning to
the poem.
These poetic devices collectively contribute to the charm and effectiveness of "Oh, I Wish I'd Looked
After Me Teeth," making it an entertaining and memorable piece.
EXTRACT BASED QUESTIONS
A) “…But up-and-down brushin’
And pokin’ and fussin’
Didn’t seem worth the time-I could bite!”
1. What do these lines convey?
2. Why did the poet go to the dentist? How could she have avoided it?
3. “If you got a tooth, you got a friend”, what do you understand from the line?
B) ‘Oh I showed them the toothpaste all right,
I flashed it about late at night,
But up-and-down brushin’.
And pokin ‘and fussin’.
Didn’t seem worth the time—I could bite.
1. What is ‘them’ being referred to in the first line ? Why did the poet show them the toothpaste?
2. Explain the phrase- ‘pokin’ and ‘fussin’.
3. What didn’t seem ‘worth the time’ to the poet?
VALUE BASED QUESTION
“The body is a temple”. It is believed that the body given by God should be treated with care, as
it is one’s temple. Comment on this thought with reference to the poem ‘Oh I wish I’d looked
After Me Teeth’.
REFERENCE VIDEO
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