Concentrated Smile

“Concentrated Smile”

“Go on, be merry!”
Is what he said to me.
What he didn't say was
how, or why I was supposed
to be. Or maybe, he left that
up to me.

Happiness, in us all.
There when we rise,
gone when we fall.

Confidence, stalwart, tall.
Meant to catch us,
before we fall.

Hatred. Anger. The
one with many names.
Sometimes masked with
a sweeter note, dislike, pain.

I might lock the third down,
in a pulsing cage. It would
quell the burning, the rage.

I might halt the second,
push it down. I would
keep it sealed, far in
the ground.

The first, I might,
I might simply keep.
I would let it glow,
and shine.

I might
take what he said and
make it mine.

I will take the first,
I will sate my thirst,
I will rend mountains
of spite with brilliant
light. 

I will sink pride, with a
deep, true expression.
I will hope, to
be the first.