Smiles

“Lighten up”

whispers Smiles,

that ear-to-ear warmth

once born of the tooth fairy

so long ago.

With impish modesty,

you revealed your caress.

Yes…

I cursed you once,

or twice,

or three times,

I don't know,

so many curves you did reveal,

cut short by my fear.

Then…

One day you popped up on my towel,

almost hiding,

just hanging there.

Yeah.

Really.

Even as the dampness of rushing

stretched you downward,

you managed to dry your tears

and lift your threads upwards for joy.

Up.

Up.

Pulling me along until

I once again succumbed to

your miracle,

your healing of dreams,

once of nightmares.

I know you're there

in the gleam of a river's flow,

the crackle of a fire,

the sparkle of a sky.

I just have to look

beneath the pillows

of dimness.