Interior Validation Poem by RoseAnn V. Shawiak

All through life, walking, looking into people's eyes
directly, never wavering or looking away, attaching a
smile to everyone met along the way.

There are some who avoid direct eye contact, wondering
why that is, seeming they can see through, but are not
acknowledging my presence or anything else.

Feelings cannot escape an interior validation, knowing
what it is they're trying to hide from others who only
want to be acknowledged in return with a smile.