Smile

Your smile is the only thing that fakes your age;

The rest of you shines in its place

Unseen in those old photographs.

There is a time, you said,

to put away your toys.

You swore, you crossed your heart:

clean laundry; washed dishes; graduation photos.

Your mother came knocking

and we were doing somersaults in the garden.

You will: we all leave some day

to find ourselves space enough to live.

Will you look back? When you do?

Ah—even my dumb scatterbrain heart

knows that it was too hot to touch                                                        

when you picked it up.

Your fingers are still tender.

Time will be the only thing that forgives us;

Don’t worry, don’t look back—

Just smile a new smile

For this time, for this camera.