a tigerish smile played
like a butterfly on her lips
blowing a kiss to tomorrow
smile
your eyes
your eyes your lips
calligraphic curls
your smile
Illustration by the wonderful Uyanga
drawing
charcoal
snow paper
I stare
not understanding
the curve of a smile
masks
some hide smiles
some hide eyes
many tiny invisible lies
your mask hides
your mask hides your smile
but still how I’m struck
to see your eyes laughing
he smiled the smile
he smiled the smile
that made hearts rainbow bounce
full
generous
and just for you
The clue to the title is ‘six’
I still did not know your name
when I first saw your smile
I stood there in the melted snow
bus waiting hands burning despite my gloves
love (I think) filled my heart
Airport arrivals
An elderly couple catches sight of their daughter. There are long, long hugs. Mum hides her tears by straightening her daughter’s collar, Dad does the same by busily wheeling the trolley away. Daughter does not hide her tears, she lets them flow from wide-open eyes, but slows them by smiling tight-lipped at people in the waiting crowd. And the tears seem to be as catching as yawns; I am one of the grown men clearing my throat, my fist to the bridge of my nose. Then, recognising a shared emotion through the tears, we nod and smile at strangers. And then we all move in our own directions.
Your smile is a candle
Your smile is a candle.
It keeps me warm when the frost falls.
Your smile is a candle.
It shows me a way through the distance, the night.
Your smile is a candle, reflected in my eyes.
Stones land in water
Stones land in water
I see wild white fish jumping
Willows hide sad smiles