With Smiling Closed Lips Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

God has allowed my life.
With an accepted work ethic.
To do what needs to be done.
And applying effort to it!

My mother taught me this,
As I watched her struggle...
With smiling closed lips.
From plucking feathers off chickens.
To working on her feet,
While completing her duties...
As a hired machinist.
To ensure my sisters and I...
Were sheltered.
Ate!
Clothed and kept clean!

God has allowed my life...
To expose it in composition.
And to do that in a way,
To use praise as the condition.
With smiling closed lips...
Uplifting so much pride,
I have inside!