Smile... It's Not that Bad

12/21/17 A smile,

Worth a thousand words.

A thin line

Worth more?

Or less?

The truth in sight

But still wonder,

Still tell her

“Smile, it’s not that bad”

And the response

Pearly whites,

Eager to please

But why?

She wonders when you leave

Why she listened—

To someone

With a history

Of turning smiles

To frowns,

Tearing peace

Into painful pieces.

Is it really

Not that bad?

Tomorrow,

You walk by

She turns away

Ignoring presence

Thoughts in eyes:

“Smile,

Its not that bad.”

But what do you know

Of scheduled walks,

Faked phone calls

Ignored voices and

Pretend ignorance,

Of stares and whispers,

What do you know

Of crawling skin

And nighttime terrors

That reappear in multiple

During daytime light?

What do you know,

Of the lack of a smile,

What do you know,

Of the truth

In the mind?

Asking for a lie

To hide your truth,

To hide the truth

Of a rewinding country.