Empty Smiles

Empty Smiles

We sit here smiling in a lonely world

Full of so much anger and regret

For things we never thought we’d do.

We speak, teeth clenched, fists curled

Saying everything but nothing, so adept

But wondering what we got ourselves into

The years roll by and the world changes

Yet, we find ourselves the same

Smiling without showing our true feelings

Lying to the world to appear untainted

And deep inside we still harbor the pain

Of all our failed trials and new beginnings

We won’t tell the darkness, we need to be strong

We won’t allow anyone to see the fear

We hold it in, take it to our graves

Without ever thinking it is wrong

Without ever letting anyone near

We think it’s right, but it eats our souls away

We should talk about our troubles

We should tell each other our woes

We should spread our tales and wisdom

It would make us more loveable,

And help people know they aren’t alone

In a world that would consume them.

Yet we will not, instead, we tell the world goodnight

With a warm smile, and a loving embrace

Closing our minds to the past, to the pain

We ignore the hurt in each other’s eyes

Ceasing to read beyond the smile on their face

Hoping beyond hope our fake happiness will remain