Toothbrushes

Toothbrushes

My toothbrush hangs out
on the kitchen counter, erect
in its electric charger stand,
next to the wooden cutting board
that used to be twice as big
before it split in half five years
ago, when David left.
I see most toothbrushes stored
in bathrooms, on vanity countertops,
or maybe hidden in drawers, next to
a tube of Crest toothpaste.
Tonight I saw a toothbrush on
the edge of a bathtub, next to the
bottles of shampoo and cream rinse.
I see my friend standing in
her shower in the morning,
warm water streaming
down her back, her face uplifted,
brushing her teeth.