Image by flyzipper via Flickr
New , flexible,
rubber band smiles, stretch
taut across clear, open spaces,
faces,
smoothly curved into grins, and
softly dimpled hollows frame
young, resilient skin,
too soon etched with secret pouts, then,
frowns that cave into folds,
and elastic,
withered and slack
with miles of wear,
fade sadly,
erode into tightly-lipped cracks,
splay into undefined, chaotic lines,
and years of impotence,
absent of grace and happiness,
gather up payments
on faces
devoid of magic and smiles.
©Janet Mitchell,
August, 2011
