! ! His Smile Poem by Michael Shepherd

He smiled … it was as if I’d never seen
a smile before; as if, that moment, God
invented smiles; as if there’d never been
a reason for a gift that was so good…

He smiled… as if from every day and year
of his own life, with each its gratitude
to give assurance, that we’re living here
to fill our living with that godly good…

Was this how angels smile? Was this as God –
who has no need to smile – and thus, whose smile
may be unbounded, when he sees mankind
now in His image, shining as He shines?

Was this the peace on earth of God’s first dawn?
Mandela smiled.. and mankind was reborn.