The Rebel Smile

Magnetically her lips smile to her cheeks.
Bright, smooth and firm.
They say, "I'm fine, thank you,"
And, "Stay away please,"
All in one, in many words and no words.
Casually, she trumps past, heels banging,
Bright skirt swaying high.
I do not speak
Because she smiles, bangs, and sways that things are right.

Pathetically, he eyes her as though captured
In a single idle glance.
He takes her things, pays her bill,
Tries to listen, takes the blame,
Simply because she says to
And this is a two way deal.
He is silent to content her stiffened smile.
For a thing like her, what is a little crunching of his spine beneath her heels?

I understand
We must rebel against the weight of punishment,
Throw aside the sweetness of before,
Close our hands, close our hearts,
Laugh at our discomfort,
Mock at our own pain
If we want to find ourselves.
But then, how do we go back?

I have seen a girl with wildflowers in her hair,
She smiled into sunshine and when the wind touched her cheeks.
I have seen her dance and laugh through a field,
And call to a warrior from afar,
"My husband, my lord," so that all the fields could hear,
And she washed his feet of battle mud.
Maybe there were wings on her back.
It's hard to remember once I've opened my eyes.