I

thought

–

–

I

would

–

–

never

see

–

–

better

days . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

thought

.

i

t

.

would

always

–

–

remain

.

t

h

i

s

.

way . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

thought

–

–

I

would

–

–

never

see

–

–

better

days . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

s

–

–

–

the

electric,

–

–

eclectic

colors

.

o

f

.

the

past

–

–

blurred

.

a

n

d

.

burned

.

i

n

t

o

.

embers

.

o

f

.

gray . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

They

blurred

.

a

n

d

.

burned . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

They

blurred

.

a

n

d

.

burned . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

They

blurred

.

a

n

d

.

burned . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

i

n

t

o

–

–

–

embers

.

o

f

.

gray . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

I

thought

.

i

t

.

would

always

–

–

remain

.

t

h

i

s

.

way . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ I

thought

.

i

t

.

would

always

–

–

remain

.

t

h

i

s

.

way . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

that

I

would

–

–

never

.

s

e

e

.

better

days . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

thought

–

–

I

would

–

–

never

.

s

e

e

.

better

days . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

thought

–

–

I

would

–

–

never

.

s

e

e

.

better

days . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

I

thought

–

–

I

would

–

–

never

.

s

e

e

.

better

days . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

u

n

t

i

l

–

–

–

today . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ until

today

–

–

when

a

face

–

–

without

a

name . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

sent

a

smile

.

o

f

.

playful

grace,

–

–

–

.

.

.

embrace,

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

escape

–

–

my

way . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

saying

.

i

n

.

the

segue . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

that

everything

–

–

would

.

b

e

.

okay . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ everything

–

–

would

.

b

e

.

okay . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

said

a

smile

.

i

n

.

the

segue . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

erasing

.

t

h

e

.

parade

.

o

f

.

blame . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

pain . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

a

n

d

–

–

–

shame . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

ever

pacing

.

i

n

.

the

shade . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

 ~ ever

pacing

.

i

n

.

the

shade . . .

–

–

–

.

.

.

o

f

–

–

–

yesterday.

Reflection: This is an inspiration/hope-themed poem where an unexpected brighter turn in life happens after someone offers the gift of a smile. Sometimes that’s all it takes to lift another’s spirits and improve perspective. So, smile often.

I wrote most of this poem by listening to “Chances Are” by Johnny Mathis and “I Love How You Love Me” by The Paris Sisters – which I played repeatedly in the background to create the “moodset” for the poem. And they worked well. If you listen to these songs at low volume while reading this poem, you might better get the “feel” of it.