Dog face

They looked at me with doubt The light had long gone out I was long past my prime Ripples in a pond subside over time "That's him?", an onlooker thought it odd "Yes" his brother said, "I swear to God!" A girl said "I don't see it, but it must be there" Their doubts didn't faze me, I really didn't care "It's all a fraud," said a sad man staring I laughed inwardly, I was past caring A colleague thought I was magnetic, explained it by a pheromone He thought I didn't wash; I just gave a groan. Then a woman said angrily that I must be kept down A backhanded compliment, but I'd rather not drown A young man told his friends that I had a "dog face" He didn't feel I belonged in his land, his place. For many years, I hadn't slept through the night But one day, I got up, feeling alright. Put a bike helmet on my bald head Got on my Trek, like a 70's retread. Cycled out of the city, into green lands Blood rushed to my face, heard musical bands Light came from somewhere, buried inside Perhaps its last stand, before it expired and died A few people caught sight, gasped with surprise We were all feeling good, there were stars in their eyes They gave me a smile, a smile from the heart Like a sudden symphony, like a work of art. Should we believe in illusion, should we stick to the fact? Should we get to the real, or fall for an act? Whatever was true, I'm old now and worn But in a smile, in enthusiasm, it's always reborn Smiles are cheap, I think there's no harm Life is short, why not add myth, no cause for alarm.