November verse 3

I did go to the dentist on Friday, but was reduced to writing this between movies at the Sydney Festival.

November verse 3: Dentist
I used to focus on my breathing,
hoping not to feel the pain.
I’d concentrate on muscles, easing
tightness to relax my brain. 
I used to chant a homemade mantra:
Om madur,I give up Fanta, 
or words to that effect. The drill
and picks would terrify me still.
But these days if I pay attention
closely to what’s going on –
each nerve impulse, each tiny prick, 
each jolt – I find it does the trick:
my mind’s too busy keeping track
to let the panic goons attack.