Simply Smile

***TRIGGER WARNING*** contains abuse, depression, sadness, etc. This poem is about hiding your feelings behind a painted smile.

Curving of the lips in an upward direction,
An indent in your fulls cheeks creating a dimple,
Wrinkling your nose as you let out a laugh,
But what lies behind the that smile? Behind something so simple?
Some feel hurt by family, some by friends,
Others betrayed by the one they called soul mate,
But your smile is deeper than a betrayal of the bed,
Much stronger than a stab from family, no you were bait,
The lure for a pain to torture you unmerciful,

There you were, simply four years old,
Waiting for a hug from a father who didn't care,
Wishing for an "I love you" that was spoken with truth,
Instead you received bruises when you awoke, scared,
Is he still mad at you? You wonder as you step out of your room,
You knew there were bad daddies who hurt your friends,
But you never knew that you shared their same doom,
He didn't touch you like the other father's had done,
No he hit you, told you how worthless you are,
He always wanted a boy, he would have been happy. Having fun,
But you try, you're a tomboy at age six,

There you were, simply pushing on your years,
Hiding what you felt inside, the aching of your heart,
Running from flesh and blood, was normal now,
Not sure why but you feel yourself tearing apart,
You separate yourself from him when he's had too much to drink,
It doesn't help, cause he'll find you no matter what,
You try so hard to avoid the thoughts you think,
Whether it's with the whip, his hands, his voice, or the things he does to your mother,
Selling her, hurting you, murdering any life you had in your lungs,
Your breathing is unsteady, your sight blurry, your life uncertain, smothered.
Your falling and breaking, crying and screaming but unheard,

Here you are, simply breathing,
Your life isn't really yours anymore,
He's gone and out of your life in physical form,
But torments your dreams, your thoughts, in every film, he's the the horror,
He's put a hold on you, you're stuck and shattered,
Somewhere along the road a boy came in,
Said three words and took everything, you lay battered,
Now you watch from the window as life swarms around. Mile after mile,
And when someone stops to asks how you are today...
You simply smile.

Author's Note

Let me know what you think.

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

I liked the story told in the poem. You led to a good ending.
"And when someone stops to asks how you are today...
You simply smile. "
Sometimes all we have is a simple smile to give and release. Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[Jae-Anne Smith]

I don't think it was very rhythmic but it points to the truth that goes on in our society today. It's simply beautiful and you can really feel the persona's emotions

[NoireWriter]

Thank you, it's a free style poem, so the rhythm is not the main focus. But glad you liked it