A happy song in honor of Lee Ann’s 18th birthday
[Lee Ann Smith, my oldest daughter, turns 18 on February 13, 2002. She (along with her sister and mother) has long been a trusted adviser and critic (in the nicest sense) of these poems, and while she appreciates the “sad” ones, or the ones that deal with death (etc.), she prefers the “happy” ones. So here is a happy one in her honor.]
What
To Do With A Grouch
It
may be a bit hard to find,
Especially
if you are down;
But,
inside, most people are kind
And
would much rather smile than frown.
Though
some appear grouchy and rough
And
seem to like being alone,
They
enjoy laughing enough…
They
just don’t want that to be known.
I’ve
known people who would not smile
At
least not when others could see,
Though
frowning outside all the while,
Their
insides were shouting with glee.
I
don’t know what makes them that way,
But
I know it’s an awful shame;
That’s
why I take time ev’ry day
To
be nice to them just the same.
Oh,
it’s true that they push and shove
And
bully their way all along,
But,
will me not showing them love
Make
right what I think in them wrong?
Tell
the very next grouch you meet
That
you hope he’ll have a nice day,
Draw
not back in silent retreat –
Love
sent may again come your way.
Who
knows? You just might be the one
To
bring his gruff ways to an end,
Be
nice – show him how to have fun:
You
might of him make a good friend!
H.
L. Gradowith
02-08-2002
Gradowiths
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