Why You Never No More Smile? Poem by Thomas R. Ruffin

little blessed sister looked right into me
so I looked back at her … right into her
and I saw a curiosity
right there on her face
she did not conceal it
little sister mused
and she looked away … and returned
then away once more … then again … into me
the curiosity exploded and her mouth spit words in the form of a question
'why you never no more smile? '
sweetly spoken
'I have no more smiles left to give
not a single one
I ran completely out of smiles in the winter of '01
I want to give you one so very much
as you are without a smile of your own
and you, my young friend,
have use for many more smiles
I, though, do not
I never no more smile because I just cannot …
but you … my love...
must forever smile