Made Up Happiness Poem by Nissi Lunga

In the middle of a storm,
a calm one.
I chose to smile,
to ignore.
To listen to words,
to go deaf.
Insulted...because
it is normalized.
I felt frazzled in a corner,
indignation too.
It hurts when strong
no less when I cry.
I chose to stand still,
let it consume me.
Walk into the crowd,
do the same.
Nonchalant to ordeals,
dance anyway.
One shot at life,
squeeze the grin