no one really likes anyone
and everyone is pretending
so just smile when you need to
and crawl when you need
because pitiful things
are hard to look at
‘what if that was me?’
cover that with money and
gold and colors
and flavors
and scents
don’t smell like the subway
don’t smell like the streets
but if that’s french perfume
people will hug you to feel your
wallet against their thighs
but why give when you can get
smile smile, show some teeth
they might hate you, only you
perhaps they’re pretending
solely around you
so pull them in but not too in
or too close
or they’ll smell the road you took
to get here, to get near
it’s you against them
but you have to belong
better numbers near your name
but hide it in your bag before they look
it’s you against them
and the whole world
bigger numbers under your name
but hide it in your second hand sofa
look how big it became but it’s rough
and it’s odd, quite tacky
better than the poison
their envy will bleed on it so
smile smile, make them believe
that they can touch you and taste you
that you’re like them, but better
like a painting, an ornament
you’re a part of them
you’re born in the same sand
covered in your mother’s blood
the only time you smelled like life
but today, you have to
smell like them
precarious and cautious and
look at how they live before you live
this is your one life
so learn before you leap
or they’ll bring their pitchforks and torches
and then you can never be them
and no one will like you
because no one really likes anyone
and everyone is pretending
and you are pretending
and you are covering
your stink and envy
with a college degree and a smile
smile smile, wear a soul when you breathe
’cause you’re empty and
tired and loveless and cynical
and you’re just like them
yes, you are just like them and yet
nothing like them
and you are nothing like you
and you don’t know who you are
hell, do they know who they are?
they were busy watching you
and me and her and him and them
and so we’re all the same
we’re all nothings and nobodies
and we’re ready to like anybody
or pretend to
and this is our one life,
tell me, were all the smiles worth it?
