he didn’t smile anymore
not readily, that is
he looked sad, lonely
like he was always lost
in a black and white nightmare
smile for me
won’t you please …
no color, no sound, no people
no heart, love, life
what happened to him?
three years had gone by
what pain or shame had they brought him?
smile for me
i won’t tease …
when he smiled it was beautiful
his face came alive
the mask fell off
the little boy from three years earlier
came out of hiding
smile for me
won’t you please
smile for me
i won’t tease …
