*****

Recorded Reading (1:23): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6w3ogbs6pova0styfpjzc/Somebody-Smiles.mp3?rlkey=m3vzhe6n3nis45y6aiae39bqu&st=zmdzgpd4&dl=0

*****

Somebody Smiles

We struggle to assemble
All that’s needed for the day
Mustn’t be late for the job
Not a time to play

Making sure appearance
Satisfact’rily maintain
Wouldn’t want our presence
Giving anybody pain

Do we have our housekeys?
Are we set for lunch?
All deodorized in case
It comes down to the crunch?

Will we wish return to home
Even though we’d better not,
So spend the day doing without
Something we forgot?

Is that kid laughing at us?
Is its mama laughing too?
Or something else funny seen?
We sure wish we knew

Nerving selves the office for
Tightening the gut
Against the onslaught of all of that
Water cooler scuttlebutt

Rushing off at lunch
To our neglected errands run
Wishing we could spend a little
More time in the sun,

Take a peaceful moment
Just a bit of ease
Before we go back to attempting
Everyone we know to please,

And then — somebody stops to share
A sunny, friendly smile
And suddenly all of that fuss
Seems much more worth our while

*****

This poet works for the good of her nation and society, seven days a week.

She’s in a pretty bad fix right now ~ due to the new crime of online targeting already homeless, now for the same reason the van she lives in has stopped running. Not a hope of fixing it without donations.

SHE WILL NOT SIGN AWAY HER CIVIL RIGHTS AND ABANDON HER POSSESSIONS TO ENTER IMPRISONMENT IN A “SHELTER.” SHE WILL NOT WAIT FOR IMPRISONMENT FOR AN UNPAYABLE FINE.

One ticket is death. Real.

Arts patrons may visit http://www.UgiftABLE.com to make donations of any amount, using code 72D-31S. It will take about two weeks for the poet to be notified of your patronage.

International donors should contact her through these comments or the contact page address on this site for special instructions.

Thank you for supporting quality in the fine arts.