barely a comma of a smile
you paused to use it
only once in awhile
where oh where did
that little smile go
when you where young
you were barely acquainted with it
with love
it would not tap you on the shoulder
it would not
speak
its
soothing words
it flew up and away
like a shock of frightened birds
littlest girl lost
among a sea of perfect boys
they nearly named you masculine
as sometimes Southerners do
when a girl child is born
but Poppa wanted blue
not pink
tell me what did you think
littler joy
not big
with your hand hiding
that sliver-moon smile
and the nights you spent
not sleeping
clutching yourself
pretzel-twisted in mock resignation
your mouth filled with bile
will you ever come out into the light
or will you stay locked
behind the words
you write
and the gossamer walls
of fright
as you build
a fragile spider's nest
keeping the others out
small smile
why did you
still do you
hide
when you are
who you are
struggling
to become
one of the
best of
the rest?
Copyright May 25, 2012 All Rights Reserved By This Author
Melissa A Howells Meloo from her Tilt-a-World
