Can you see through my smile?
Can you feel the wind blister my face?
The grumble in my belly?
The tears well up in my eyes?
My pain is personal
But I fear that you feel my pain too.
My misery and your company
Do not make our pain less.
Their pity and genuine empathy…
Rage building in my chest.
Angels calm me down.
There won’t be much more smiling
Look beyond my frown
Mixed with patriotic patronization
Smiles and looks of contempt…