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Poetry · Chapter
A Long-Felt Want explained
The chapter presents a satirical scene of a sidewalk booth on Market Street offering tooth dusting for five cents, with a queue of people waiting for service.
What happens
The chapter presents a satirical scene of a sidewalk booth on Market Street offering tooth dusting for five cents, with a queue of people waiting for service.
Key passages
“Dimly apparent, through the gloom Of Market-street’s opaque simoom, A queue of people, parti-sexed, Awaiting the command of “Next!” A sidewalk booth, a dingy sign: “Teeth dusted nice—five cents a shine.””
A line of people of various genders is barely visible in the hazy darkness of Market Street, waiting for their turn at a shabby booth that offers tooth cleaning for a nickel.
The opening lines set a satirical, urban scene with a mundane commercial service.