You're a woman of experience, you know that men deceive,
But with such sincerity you cannot but believe
That this time it will be different. His hand is on your sleeve
And he takes your coat politely as he leads you to a seat.
Then quicker than expected he has swept you off your feet
And beneath his practised fingers your surrender is complete.
Though you may decide a protest is in order, you will find
That you cannot utter words to tell him what is in your mind.
When he bends his bulk towards you, you just pray he will be kind.
'This won't hurt you, that I promise.' But he does not catch your eye
As he steadies up his instrument and plunges from on high
Have you ever met a dentist who had lips that did not lie?
(First published in The Literary Review.)