#reecy

When I was little

All I ever heard was

“Let me see that smile”.

And I used to give it up for free.

Teeth spreading from cheek to cheek;

It was all so simple back then.

Not a single thought had to cross my mind,

Before I decided to grin.

  But now,

I don’t know.

Something’s different.

  I have to fake it to make it

Or to not be asked “what’s wrong”?

Because even though I know they don’t care,

I still play along.

I still bat my eyes,

And put up a coy-ish front.

I open my mouth slightly

And give them what they want.

  But for once,

Just once.

I want to be unkind.

See what it gets me.

Then make up my mind.

Do I want to go through

The rest of my life,

Pleasing others and not putting up

A fight?

Or pleasing myself

And doing things worth the while,

With people who lift up and look under

Repeat, delete,

Never complete;

Permanent,

Ink stained skin.

Bruised and beaten…

For the sake of self-expression.

Blood dripped and swollen;

The art sets in.

Colors grip the pigments

Of our ever living flesh.