smiles at a cocktail party

we only smile when it serves us.

i politician-smiled
at too many people tonight:

the forty-something lady
who couldn't butter her sarcasm

the vietnam vet
with one arm

the alcoholic english teacher
who looked a little more than tipsy

the dwarfish gent
who made me laugh

the man with boozey eyes
who told me stories of ohio winters

the indian neighbor
who worked at nasa
and snapped pictures like a playboy photographer

his fat wife
who invited me over

i was obliged to decline,
partly because i was drunk
and planned to get drunker,
but mostly because
i was tired of seeing picture-esque stranger smiles
and perfect white
teeth.

Author's Note

I went to a family party this weekend in Ohio, and this is more or less how it went (minus the drunkenness).

Reviews

[Blue Moon Ice Cream]

I love the brief yet vivid descriptions that give plenty of insight into each person. Gotta love family parties...it's funny how when you get older, you look at your family members and you see all of their flaws, when you used to think they were perfect, and you realize that you don't really enjoy being around your family like you used to...