Posing For Pictures

What is the secret of your smile That seems so fearful to be free? (My culture tries so hard To show a cheerful face.) Perhaps you would deny your joy (Sharing the Chinese belief That the Gods can be jealous Of human happiness Or any other way That we approach perfection) ? Perhaps you want to turn The jealousy of friends. Perhaps you seek to imitate The sultry expression Of a Vogue model, To mask some hidden flaw, Or is it too painful To fully experience The joy that you fear May not come again? I search through all the my pictures For one flash of white teeth, One moment of unrestrained joy. Perhaps I ask too much, But of this fact I'm sure, My heart has seen you smile. Brian Johnston For Yuliya Verbitskaya March 1990