I, smile.
to hide the hurt.
I, smile.
to hide the pain.
I come,
ready to start
another day.
I smile,
Say hello, am friendly.
In return,
I am thrown
Dirty looks, gestures, and words.
It hurts,
but I take it all.
and with a smile,
and a "Have a nice day!",
I continue on,
happily.
Comment after comment,
I show no emotion
within this commotion.
You cuss me, you abuse me,
My face grows hot, burning with anger.
Alas, I cannot reciprocate,
I cannot slap your smirking face.
I swallow it down, take it in stride.
With a emotionless face,
I thank you.
I imagine with haste,
All the ways I could torture you.
Have you screaming in pain,
begging for forgiveness and mercy,
And I would just smile...
Back to reality,
I finish with you,
and go on.
The next one is nice,
a decent human being.
I relax,
Relived and assured,
They ask me how I am.
I lie,
Say with a smile,
"I'm Fine!"
But inside,
My heart breaks.
Battered and Bruised,
It gets through the day,
Waiting for the minutes
to pass away.
Finally, home calls,
And I make my way.
All to do it over again,
The very next day.
Ah, such is the life
Of a lowly retail slave.