Posing For Pictures
What is the secret of your smile
That seems so fearful to be free?
(My culture tries so hard
To show a cheerful face.)
Perhaps you would deny your joy
(Sharing the Chinese belief
That the Gods can be jealous
Of human happiness
Or any other way
That we approach perfection) ?
Perhaps you want to turn
The jealousy of friends.
Perhaps you seek to imitate
The sultry expression
Of a Vogue model,
To mask some hidden flaw,
Or is it too painful
To fully experience
The joy that you fear
May not come again?
I search through all the my pictures
For one flash of white teeth,
One moment of unrestrained joy.
Perhaps I ask too much,
But of this fact I'm sure,
My heart has seen you smile.
Brian Johnston
For Yuliya Verbitskaya March 1990
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