Smile, go on, smile!
Anyone would think, to look at you,
that your cat was on the barbecue
or your best friend had died.

Go on, curve your mouth.
Take a look at that beggar,
or that one-legged bus conductor.
Where’s your cross?

Smile, slap your thigh.
Hiccup, make a horse noise,
lollop through the house,
fizz up your coffee.

Take down your guitar
from its air-shelf and play
imaginary reggae
out through the open door.

And smile, remember, smile,
give those teeth some sun,
grin at everyone,
do it now, go on, SMILE!