Not many people can attribute their five minutes of fame to a routine dental cleaning. But that’s at least the “partial” case for Western Kentucky University English professor Tom Hunley.

Today, Hunley’s poem “The Dental Hygienist” will be aired on more than 320 radio stations nationwide when it is read by renowned on-air personality Garrison Keillor during “Writer’s Almanac” segment.

Many listeners are familiar with Keillor’s “This Day in History” bit, when he gives a snippet of the past before reading a poem that ties in with the theme.

Hunley said his publisher, Logan House Press, submitted his entire book of poetry called “Octopus,” and received a letter back indicating that the mouthiest of the poems had been selected.

“It’s like being selected for Oprah’s Book Club for a poet,” Hunley said. “… It was really exciting for me. It’s been a goal of mine for a long time.”

The poem carefully flosses a connection between a man’s difficulty communicating with his female dental hygienist and the common miscommunications men and women have in relationships.

“… she didn’t say anything, so I said “Mmphllf” and “Mmpllff” though I’m not sure what I meant,” the poem reads. “and she took me to mean ‘would you like to go out tonight?’ and ‘to an expensive restaurant?’ ”

When the narrator arrives for the date, the hygienist stuffs his roses in his mouth and tells about her feelings and fillings. His only reply – “mmplff.”

“It’s kind of typical for Dr. Hunley,” said Karen Schneider, head of the WKU English department. “He’ll take a personal experience and kind of use that for the basis for many broader statements about human relationships in an unexpected way.”

Hunley, who is currently working on a textbook about teaching poetry writing, said it has been his longtime goal to have a poem read by Keillor, as it provides an opportunity to reach listeners.

“It’s a chance for people who don’t normally hear poetry to hear poetry,” Hunley said. “There’s usually a very small group of people aware of what’s happening in poetry, but with Garrison, it’s a way to get outside that clack.”

In Bowling Green, the poem can be heard at 5 p.m. today on Western’s Public Radio 88.9 FM.

While much of Hunley’s family will be listening from the West Coast, the writer said he may not listen at all – Hunley has already listened to the Podcast of the reading available at writersalmanac.publicradio.org, and noticed that Keillor changed the pronunciation of “mmplff” in his reading.

“It sounds kind of what it’s like with dental instruments in your mouth,” Hunley said. “It surprised me, but he does a good job.”

Seven other writers from Hunley’s publishing house, Steel Toe Books, have had their work aired on the show.

Hunley said Keillor connects the historical significance of the Eerie Canal to possible canal work being done in “The Dental Hygienist.”

Schneider said the reading will give national recognition to the excellent writers and students at Western.

“It’s very gratifying that Dr. Hunley has finally been chosen because he’s a brilliant poet,” she said.