smile…

Mama said,”Smile,”
And I tried my very best,
I curved my lips,
And sat up straight,
And held my breath,
Down in my chest.

The camera flashed.
My eyes were closed,
While with a smirk,
And bitter dulp,
I held my awkward pose.

“What is a smile?” I thought.
“Please show me how to make one.”
Mama said to smile,
“Someone at least,
Show me how to fake one.”
“Liverwurst,”he said
To try to make me giggle.
It didn’t make me laugh a bit.
I didn’t even wiggle.

“Try to think of something funny,”
He said.
I thought and thought hard,
But nothing seemed funny to me,
Inside the school yard.

School was tough,
Kids are mean.
“We all have handicaps,” they say
But mine was clearly seen.

“Smile,” he said,
“Smile big.
Think of Daffy Duck,
Think of Porky Pig.”
“You idiot,” I thought,
“You’re reciting your
Worn-out script.
I wouldn’t smile at you
Even if your pants
Got ripped.”

School years flew by,
A dozen pictures were taken,
But photographers just aren’t good,
With me and smile makin’.
Then one day I met someone.

His dark hair shone,
With summer gold.
The sun lived deep in his heart.
When he first held me,
When we first kissed,
There was that great moment
That the photogrpaher missed.
I smiled a smile, so big,
With such feeling,
That I felt like I flew,
And danced on the ceiling.

The secret to smiling,
I feel I found,
Is not being silly and goofing around.
The secret is in loving,
And trusting,
And sharing,
There would be no smiles,
In a world without
Caring.

***lagi browsing malem-malem nyari-nyari artikel soal wordpress, ngga sengaja nemu puisi  ini, penulisnya Laurie Nuck, siapa dia? jujur ngga tau hehehe… even wikipedia pun ngga punya source soal beliau… puisinya sederhana, tapi cukup bikin nyengir ( dalam kasus saya “nyengir” berarti saya sedang berusaha tersenyum…)