IS SMILES

IS SMILES

What this is, is smiles
     in outskirts of my mouth,
The sound of sleep, lazy house.
Tick-tock alarm somewhere.
Rain taps the window.
Awake early mornings;
Early bird,
     not outside, but in.

What this is, is smiles
     to sounds unknown, to snores and sighs
     to people, semi-sleepwalk fruitlessly
     with Tesla hair
     cracks for eyes, faltering stumbles in the direction
     of the Espresso Machine.

What this is, is smiles
Are small feet jump-thump;
     high-pitched voices sing a tune
     never heard, to a yellow clown
     on a screen.

What this is, is smiles
     deep inside. I had no idea
     smiles could exist
     inside my heart.

***

Poem by Darren White

December 22, 2016