Monday, April 11, 2011

Crow's Feet

Rylee Joy Kellner; granddaughter

Crow’s Feet

“Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been.”
--Mark Twain

Smiling
can be that moment
when the face ignites with mirth,
when eyes shine, teeth sparkle,
when the imp peers over the lip--
yet there is so much more going on
at the flesh corners of that mouth;
a sumptuous cavalcade of emotion
portraying conceit, anxiety, fear, anger,
grimace, snarling, submission, hubris,
or the pouty prelude to a kiss, or a bite
and the aftermath.

Please do not flash the botox, flight attendant,
counter girl, shoe salesman, cover model
fake smile at me, for the sparkle is absent
and the heart is otherwise engaged;
it only produces a burn in my chest
as another counterfeit moment
is piled onto a tower of insincerity
creating a sad landscape of lies.

Just give me the genuine Duchenne moment
when the zygomatic muscles work in beautiful tandem
with the obicular oculi and your gorgeous eyes sparkle,
for that touches me, and we all need to be touched
in order to fully counteract all that negative energy
that lurks larger every day.

My seven week old granddaughter smiled
at me yesterday, and the glow is still captive,
like a firefly in a bell jar.

Glenn Buttkus

April 2011

Listed as #31 over on Magpie Tales 61

Would you like to hear the Author read this poem to you?

16 comments:

Ann Grenier said...

Your poem is beautiful and so wise. Thank you. The baby is a doll---

Stafford Ray said...

Most can't fake the 'obicular oculi' moment! Grandchildren's smiles are the real thing. Pure gold.

Tess Kincaid said...

Like a firefly in a bell jar. I love that.

Gemma Wiseman said...

Children know how to be beautiful so unconsciouly! If only we could keep that firefly moment as we grow older! Lovely poem!

Isabel Doyle said...

it is love, isn't it? the real thing ...

David Gilmour said...

Too many winkles make the eye-wrinkles. Too much dramatizing of life increases the crow creases. Igniting the teeth makes the lips lift mirthful and the steamy stench makes the mouth clench.

gautami tripathy said...

Beautiful!

physics of it all

Helen said...

Give me that feeling - any day, every day of my life!

Marilyn & Jeff said...

Very well written, thoughful poem. Very beautiful granddaughter. I have a six week old granddaughter - I haven't seen one of her smiles yet but my husband was able to spend some time with her and she graced him with three of these of those heart warming smiles that you mention.

Tumblewords: said...

Superb and she IS a beauty!

Reflections said...

She is captivating, isn't she... Like a firefly in a bell jar. Oh the hearts she will one day turn.

hyperCRYPTICal said...

Beautiful Glenn. Beautiful!

Anna :o]

Trellissimo said...

Can't beat grandkids for melting the heart!

Brigid O'Connor said...

Congratulations, she is a beauty.

Like a firefly in a bell jar.- gorgeous line.

Anonymous said...

what an entertaining post.
you rock.

Hyde Park Poetry Palace said...

cute image,
what a tickle.


beautiful write…

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Your poetry rocks!

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