question_answer

  Oh! I showed them the toothpaste all right, I flashed it about late at night, But up-and-down brushing, And pokin' and fussin, Didn't seem worth the time-I could bite! (a) Whom did the poetess show the toothpaste? What does 'show' means? (b) What does poking and fussing mean? (c) What did the poetess flash about late at night?

Answer:

                  (a) The poetess, as a child, showed her teeth as brushed with toothpaste to her parents, 'show' here means that she brushed very quickly only to please her parents. (b) Poking and fussing refer to the inspection of the poetess's teeth done by her mother each night. The poetess's had to get her teeth inspected by her mother and the mother would blame her the bad brushing and decay that developed. (c) The poetess's flashed her toothbrush across her teeth late at night because brushing the teeth is done just before going to bed.