Smile Away Poem by Sathya Narayana

I combed my hair,
shaved clean,
sprayed perfume,
wore my best suit …
standing stylishly
with hand in trouser pockets,
I threw the best of my smile.
She smiled away!

I tried some poetry,
cut some elite jokes,
lilted a romantic Telugu song.
Looking at her aslant
I tried one more
of my best smiles.

She smiled away!

I became morose,
grew beard,
stopped grooming hair,
wore tattered jeans,
crumpled T-shirt
and turned violent
using swear-words.

This time she smiled.

Dirty love!
I smiled away!