Are You Smiling? Poem by Phyllis Thompson Halle

I realized, just now, that I have a smile on my face.
In some way, unexplainable, my heavy burden seems
lifted, lighter, unimportant.
Are you the one who is praying for me?

I woke up with no brighter day before me than yesterday
No great, sonic boom of change had transformed
my cluttered life,
had sent my pain flying to the furthest
reaches of the universe, away from me.
Are you the one who has prayed for me?

Well, there you have it!
This silly smile is here and in a way
gives me a lot of pleasure!
Are you the one who was praying for me, just now?

No problems solved, no health restored,
no beloved raised from death to warm my soul again
Yet here, a smile, a lightened load, a hope!
I smile because I know that God has lifted
and is carrying my heavy thoughts.

Are you smiling, too?
Because I am praying for you.

(September 16,2003)