Smile Like An Idiot Poem by Uriah Hamilton

Formerly lonely
on summer streets
swaying with happy souls
making their way
to movie theaters
and college bars,
I decided not to think about it,
not regret my ghost-like existence
in the haunted universe.

I once left parties early
to retreat to a back stairway
with a book of poetry,
completely superior in my mind
to be with Li Po or Tu Fu
but now I'd rather stay all night
watching the girl in the yellow dress
shimmy with her champagne glass.

There were days when I could argue
any point in any number of ways,
almost intoxicated to hear my voice;
but now I'd rather make my choice
not to oppose anything but only embrace
humanity and whatever lovely face
happens to be in front of me.

I know I'm going to spend
a long time in the grave,
that there's nothing I can save,
no worthy example to give
in the way I behave, except,
to enjoy every sacred and mundane hour
of joy and suffering,
to simply smile like an idiot to be here! !