Toothpick

A blade of wheat that my dad found
spread out alone upon the ground
was no doubt relieved and thrilled
that it wound up, instead of milled,
stuck between my dad’s front choppers,
better there than in the hoppers
of the flour mill’s grinding wheels—
a sacrifice to future meals.
A fate as toothpick far superior
to a stomach’s dark interior!!

The three word for the 3 Things Challenge are: Thrilled, Milled, Ground

During wheat harvesting, my dad often had a stem of wheat, head attached, sticking out from between his two front teeth.  Caught in the act of picking his teeth, it was a handy storage place.  Other times of the year, his front pocket always contained a few toothpicks to first use, then suck on, switching them from side to side between his lips. This prompt was made just for me!!!