Absent Smiles

Is it because they are alive no more?
Or do the smiles leak out bit by bit
till they are no more?

I thought,
Smile was what life was made of;
then I found the missing piece.

Love orphaned,
Standing on the street all alone,
told me they had just walked by.
The girl and Mom,
just out from the counselor.
The car seat had ample space between them.
Just a glance
And love would’ve jumped in,
smiling at both till they got infected.

Love smiled at me.
I sent him after the boy in taekwondo suit
who had trouble solving his math homework.
No worries,
I found love’s twin at the next intersection.
Beware! Twins are never the same.

©mar:ter