There’s a smile that wants
to dance across my lips,
but I taste its sweet,
and I haven’t an urge for sugar.
I do find humor in the
civil war on my face,
and the audience
who’s not sure if I’m angry
or simply (if simple ever fits) insane.
My husband swears I’ve been
reading Bukowski again,
those whiskey cigarette lines
keeping his bluebird from
nesting in my chest.
It’s a day… Just a day.
I‘ll get through it, around it
or over it.
But that smile, hmmm,
I’ll keep it to a smirk.
©Susie Clevenger 2025
NaPoWriMo Day 2
I love it! The "civil war on my face." My grandma's face always revealed what she was thinking and I have inherited it. I love the smile that is a smirk.
ReplyDeleteLoved "civil war on my face" - it was so unexpected presenting great imagery of the conflicting emotions.
ReplyDeleteI'll take them all: The sweet smile, the Civil War smile, and the smirk. Lovely poem!
ReplyDeleteI love how you capture the spirit of the Beats - Jae
ReplyDeleteI empathize with - It's a day....just a day. One just has to find a way to move on somehow. And I like the smirk of a smile!
ReplyDeleteAll these smiles are needed in life especially the last one. Wonderful lines, Susie.
ReplyDeleteGreat poem Love 'But that smile, hmmm, I’ll keep it to a smirk. '
ReplyDeleteand 'keeping his bluebird from
nesting in my chest. ' Keep smiling as it keeps you sane I think when finding comedy in this chaos
Keep them guessing, Susie, and smile to "get through it," as we must.
ReplyDelete